Regular Columnists

Artist: Neil Thomas
Website: http://www.neilthomas.co.uk/
Genre: Easy Listening
CD Review:
You don't hear a cd like this everyday. I don't hear one like this every Year. First off, Neil crosses so many overs/genres, he should be placed square in the center of the map for easy mobility. Easy listening, opera, musical theatre, pop, it's all contained in just 11 songs and an hour's worth of worthy material. When I say contained within, well, I mean within Each of the 11. At times, Neil's voice is a cross between Trevor Rabin and John Denver, and at others, he is that smooth voice from the 80s, reminding one of Foreigner's hold on the public.

'Pepperhaus Suite' comes straight out of Sarah Brightman's realm, complete with Mezzo Soprano and Soprano, doing a mighty fine job. And the album continues to the farthest extreme, such as the pop 'Emily & Charlotte', and the new age kiss of 'The Swan Suite', a beautiful 8 minute pillow which puts your head down for you, helps you dream, parts the clouds for the coming stars. Pretty. 'Then one day she will emerge / Discovered passion now diverge / Sunlight radiantly sings / With the first beatings of her wings'.

Neil is a singular talent I'm glad he's climbing from the lovely West Yorkshire country of England, now trying to conquer the rest of the world. With this kind of set to play, he could easily pick up some Jim Brickman audiences, and run away with the hearts of adult contemporaries.