Artist: Charmaine
Album: Love Reality
Year: 2010
Label: in:ciite
Website: http://www.charmainemusic.net/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/charmaine
Twitter: @charmainemusic
Buy: Official Store
Sounds Like: Lily Allen, Rebecca St. James, Joy Williams, Kate Havenik
Rating: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

It’s been a long time since I witnessed a debut as impeccable as Charmaine’s one. The recent signing with in:ciite and the mixture of upbeat, youthful energy with its Euro-contemporary sound produced by Fred Williams (Backstreet Boys, Jeff Deyo) have resulted in “Love Reality”. Having shared the stage with such artists as Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James (whose father/manager David Smallbone discovered her innate talent) and Newsboys, and recently returned from Lima, Peru (my hometown) after visiting with Compassion International on a social mission support. Embracing her fears and moving forward, says: “I am reminded daily of God’s goodness and I rather to be in His mission than mine ; is a path that he himself fulfilled”.

It seems like Charmaine has a remarkable addiction to the violins, a clear example is the opening song “Tell Me” with an impressive string introduction continues by pizzicato and organs, in a song written for people oppressed by loneliness and showing the hope that is in Christ: “I’ll give you something to believe in”. With a beat similar to Joy Williams, the wonderful “At My Door” talks about hope in the day God returned again for his church while the world gets worse every day: ““They say I’m going crazy / Don’t care how long it’s taking / I know You’re down the road, almost at my door / Endless sun through my window / I’ll say good-bye to the night / So I won’t close my eye’s, till I see Your face”. A similar facet to Lily Allen can be heard on “Love Reality”, which reveals the mystery of God’s love through pianos, sweet melodies, glockenspiels and xylophones: “There is more to the story than this / More than the morning routine / If I open my eyes I can glimpse / Pieces of eternity”. “Run” leans on Katy Perry and Plumb, with a captivating dance beat: ”Run, run, run / Looking for something that is gone / Love  is on the way”. The first single “Tokyo” obviously has oriental features that consolidate the security we have knowing that no matter where we go, his presence will be with us: ”Home is where the heart is / and my heart is in your hand / You can build your kingdom / in the center of this life”. Time Comes with “Tied To The Ground”, with touches of Pink and Kate Havenik, which encourages us to rid ourselves of the fears that afflict our souls and our hearts tied to the past: “You can let go, your heart’s not tied to the ground / And I’ll be singing for you / Can you hear it? / Your soul will move to the sound / The musics playing for you”. The mysterious “Fighting Furies” talks about the battles in our minds against insecurity, with aspects of Imogen Heap. “Why do You love me, why are You here? / You know my intentions, are never sincere / My heart is unfaithful, I’ll do it again / But Your words are like fire, that burn through my skin” says the first verse of “Not Fair”, which questions the incomprehensible grace of God, yet still not being worthy, he loved us in our sins. “Epiphany” has a Hindu sentiment combined with touches of Beyonce and Enya, with successful synthesizers and a glorious melody: “Why do You love me, why are You here? / You know my intentions, are never sincere / My heart is unfaithful, I’ll do it again / But Your words are like fire, that burn through my skin”. There is no better outcome than “Revolutionary Thought” gives us, with a pleasant and intimate piano and guitar that flirting with subliminal pads/synths.

Charmaine confesses: “This record reflects all the things I am convince:  that love is the true reality, God is good, and because of this, there is hope”. The australian singer has the ability to balance pop orchestral sounds and electronic beats behind an angelic and energetic voice, with a mission to make known the true reality of the kingdom of peace. Available on March 30, “Love Reality” becomes one of my favorite records for 2010. Inspirational, creative and captivating.

Hacía mucho tiempo que no presenciaba un debut tan impecable como el de Charmaine. La reciente firma con in:ciite y la mixtura de su optimista y jovial energía junto a su sonido euro-contemporáneo, producido por Fred Williams (Backstreet Boys, Jeff Deyo) han dado como resultado “Love Reality”. Habiendo compartido escenario con artistas como Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James (cuyo padre/manager David Smallbone descubrió su talento) y Newsboys, y recientemente regresó de Lima, Perú (mi ciudad) luego de visitarnos junto a Compassion International en una misión de ayuda social. Abrazando sus temores y siguiendo adelante, nos dice: “Me recuerdo a diario la bondad de Dios y que prefiero estar en Su misión que en la misma; es un camino que Él mismo cumplirá”.

Al parecer Charmaine tiene una adicción notable a los violines, claro ejemplo es la canción de apertura “Tell Me” con una introducción de cuerdas impresionante que se prosigue por pizzicatos y órganos, en una canción dirigida a las personas oprimidas por la soledad y mostrándoles la esperanza que hay en Cristo: “I’ll give you something to believe in”. Con un beat similar al de Joy Williams, la maravillosa “At My Door” habla sobre la esperanza en el día que Dios vuelva por su iglesia mientras que el mundo empeora cada día más: “They say I’m going crazy / Don’t care how long it’s taking / I know You’re down the road, almost at my door / Endless sun through my window / I’ll say good-bye to the night / So I won’t close my eye’s, till I see Your face”. Una faceta similar a la de Lily Allen podemos oír en “Love Reality”, que desvela el misterio del amor de Dios mediante pianos, dulces melodías, liras y xilófonos: “There is more to the story than this / More than the morning routine / If I open my eyes I can glimpse / Pieces of eternity”. “Run” se inclina hacia Katy Perry y Plumb, con un cautivante dance beat: ”Run, run, run / Looking for something that is gone / Love  is on the way”. El primer sencillo del álbum “Tokyo”, obviamente tiene rasgos orientales que consolidan la seguridad que tenemos al saber que no importa dónde nos vayamos, su presencia estará con nosotros: ”Home is where the heart is / and my heart is in your hand / You can build your kingdom / in the center of this life”. Llega el turno de “Tied To The Ground”, con pinceladas de Pink y Kate Havenik, que nos anima a despojarnos de los temores que agobian nuestras almas y que amarran nuestros corazones al pasado: “You can let go, your heart’s not tied to the ground / And I’ll be singing for you / Can you hear it? / Your soul will move to the sound / The musics playing for you”. La misteriosa “Fighting Furies” habla sobre las batallas en nuestra mente contra la inseguridad, con aspectos de Imogen Heap. “Why do You love me, why are You here? / You know my intentions, are never sincere / My heart is unfaithful, I’ll do it again / But Your words are like fire, that burn through my skin” nos dice la primera estrofa de  “Not Fair”, que cuestiona la incomprensible gracia de Dios, que aún no siendo dignos nos ha amado en nuestros pecados. “Epiphany” tiene un sentimiento hindú combinado con pinceladas de Beyonce y  Enya, con acertados sintetizadores y una gloriosa melodía: “Why do You love me, why are You here? / You know my intentions, are never sincere / My heart is unfaithful, I’ll do it again / But Your words are like fire, that burn through my skin”. No hay mejor desenlace que el que “Revolutionary Thought” nos entrega, con una placentera e íntima guitarra que coquetea con pianos y subliminales pads/synths.

Charmaine nos confiesa: “Este disco refleja todas las cosas de las que estoy convencida: el amor es la verdadera realidad, Dios es bueno, y gracias a ello, hay esperanza”. Esta australiana tiene la capacidad de equilibrar orquestales sonidos pop y ritmos electrónicos detrás de una voz angelical y enérgica, y con la misión de hacer conoce la verdadera realidad del reino de paz. Disponible el 30 de Marzo, “Love Reality” se convierte en uno de mis discos favoritos para el 2010. Inspirador, creativo, cautivante.