Reviewed by Carl Grimsditch

One time LCGC member Akua Tu offers here a mainstream jazz set. The album is vocally driven, thick with hints of other genres with well written and flowing lyrics. Several tracks are noteworthy: "Sanctuary (Home)" is a relaxing number, as a song about Heaven it paints an exciting picture of what we have to look forward to. "Back's Against The Wall" with its simple acoustic guitar accompaniment is a reminder that bad things always happen but there is a place to shelter while "Gotta Feelin'" is a more upbeat funk-driven song about wanting to be with a very special person with a great ending dripping in Latin rhythms. With a permanent band behind her Akua Tu would be outstanding. Her debut just lacks that feeling of a bond between herself and the musicians, while too many of the songs are, as the title might suggest, a little too introspective.

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