Reason to Believe - 4

Never let it be said that I don't review all forms of music. I have a sneaking regard for Aled. So many "child prodigy" musicians sink without trace when they get older. Aled has moved from choirboy to radio and television presenter and adult singer with ease and good humour. Sadly there's nothing new here. It's almost as if Aled is trying to make a statement - "hey I may be known for Christian music but I can do contemporary as well." Of course there's a massive religious theme running through this album but my main complaint is the voice. Now don't get me wrong. Aled has a fine voice, but, as with many classically trained voices, his attempts at singing contemporary songs just takes the emotion out of them. That's why Rod Stewart's version of Reason to Believe is wracked with emotion and Aled's isn't. In truth this album is little more than a really good singer taking up the mike and doing a karaoke session. It's all a little too spot on, a little too perfect. One track in particular illustrates this. In the hands of Leonard Cohen or Nick Cave "Hallelujah" is one of my favourite songs. Aled turns it into a perfectly vocalised piece which it was never meant to be. He pronounces the original phrase of "do yah" as a rather posh "do you." The problem with that is it throws the entire song out of kilter because do yah was designed to rhyme with the "lujah" ending of the word Hallelujah. So the song in Aled's hands becomes annoying and grating. Same with Father and Son. Listen to Cat Stevens' original and it has massive poignancy. Listen to Aled and it becomes a run of the mill song almost divorced from its original meaning. What we are left with is a collection of perfectly sung songs, but rock music isn't about perfection.