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Elly Roberts reviews

Bryn Christopher: My World

Distributed by
Polydor Records

Released: September 2008

Rating: 10/10

Vote and comment on this album:

Twenty one year old British soul sensation’s debut – Wow!

Hot ‘n passionate from new kid on the block guarantees a big future, as long as he doesn’t do a Terence Trent D’Arby and follow-up with a bum album like D’Arby’s appalling Neither Fish Nor Flesh which killed his career.

With one smash hit under his belt, the stirring The Quest, the amazing Bryn Christopher unleashes his take on contemporary soul over 12 fabulous tracks. New single Smilin’ has dropped out of the Top 40 w/c 14 Sept, and but stays at 37 on download (10 Sept), nicely set to go higher, with this album is straight in at 18.

This remarkable young man has studied well, taking his musical touchstones from legends Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, C-Lo (Gnarls Barkley) and UK soul brother Maxwell, so he’s in fine company.

Embellishing the genre’s finest moment and singers, young Brummie Bryn’s exposure to British audiences came via support for diva Amy Winehouse’s 2007 tour, being quickly snapped up by US agent William Morris Agency who clearly have grand designs for him.

It’s a clever move. He already has some US exposure due to The Quest’s inclusion in the closing scene of season 4 of Grey’s Anatomy. This year he’s done Wireless Festival (Hyde Park) , Glastonbury, T In The Park, Oxegen and V Festival, impressive by any standards.

Teaming up with studio maestro and co-writer Jarrad Rogers and production team Midi Mafia, My World is full of rasping and exhilarating excursions either like the throbbing dancer Help Me or contemplative Smilin’, where he give some super vocal performances.

Stay With Me is pure retro stuff, much like Amy Winehouse has pursued, catchy hooks and chorus, whereas My World has undeniable shades of Otis Redding's pulsating original R&B qualities. If there’s one song that epitomises Christopher's deep soul credentials and sensibilities then it’s the awesome Found A New Love.

Things seriously get funked-up on Seconds Ago with the band getting as tight as they get here. Saving the best for last, he delivers a stunning ballad, on two part Taken Me Over to close an often breathtaking debut.

File under: Massive talent.

Weblinks: brynchristopher.com / myspace.com/brynchristopher

The full list of tracks included are :

1. Help Me 2. Smilin’ 3. Sour Times 4. Stay With Me 5. The Quest 6. My World 7. Found A New Love 8. Seconds Ago 9. The Way You Are 10. GoneGoneGone 11. My Kinda Woman 12. Taken Me Over (bonus track)

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

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