Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

It was after a hard day at the office, late at night, that I ventured to lie back and sample the sounds of Azusa, California-based singer/songwriter Andrea Hamilton. My timing was perfect to listen to the honest outpouring of the heart of this gifted storyteller. There is no cover up here as she shares her hopes, failures, fears, dreams and disappointments that strangely proved to be soothing balm across the furrowed brow of this listener. A strong piano intro leads into the opener "Out Of This Grave" that reveals a voice with a power that belies the delicate build of the singer. "It probably costs everything, but I'll dig my own way out of this grave into the sun." The honesty of these songs can be painful when they pinpoint one's own experiences. A restrained mix of mainly piano and acoustic guitars insist Andrea's clear vocals are prominent, and rightly so, but the sometimes atmospheric arrangements and backing vocals have their part to play in adding to the urgency of "Running Out of Time" and the poignancy of "Losing Ground". "All of my hope's been wrapped inside/A dream gets weak with time/All alone I find I don't really have the will to cry/Just wait on you tonight." This might not be the album to give you a cheery slap on the back, asking more questions than it answers, but for the times when you have the courage to take off the mask and be vulnerable. As the sister sings, "Back when I hated how I was created I worried what they thought of me/Now I've accepted not everyone gets it/But I'm gonna be free."

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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