Let the Truth Be Told [PA] (CD - 2009)

Personnel: Laura Izibor (vocals, piano, background vocals); Gavin Ralston (guitar, programming); Paul Bryan Farr, Tyrone Johnson (guitar); Cora Venus Lunny (violin, viola); Jo Archard, Jong On Oakki Lau, Clare Raybould (strings); Saunders Sermons (trombone); Mark Crown (brass); Joseph Joubert (piano, organ); Scott Jacoby (Clavinet, organ, Wurlitzer organ, drums, drum programming); Billy Jay Stein (Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ); John Ellis and His SDB (keyboards); Steve Lunt (shaker, percussion); Iyiola Babalola, Darren Lewis (programming); Jarrett Boyd, Marva Hicks, Darius de Haas (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Jonnie Davis "Most"; Phil Tan; Serban Ghenea; Tim Donovan; Scott Jacoby.

Recording information: ADDA Studios, Wicklow, Ireland; Apollo Studios, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland; Billy Jay Stein's Studio, New York, NY; Cauldron Studios, Dublin, Ireland; Dojo Studio, NY; Maze Studios, NY; Sarm Studios, London, England; Silverwood Studios, Co., Wicklow, Ireland; the Artist Factory, Atlanta, GA; The Factory, Dublin, Ireland; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA; Triangle Sound, Atlanta, GA; Westland Studios, Dublin, Ireland; Wolfedelic Studios, New York, NY.

Unknown Contributor Role: P. Magnet.

Arrangers: Laura Izibor; Joseph Joubert.

Laura Izibor is not your cookie-cutter neo-soul singer, and it goes beyond her background: she grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Elements of folk, gospel, and rock grandeur dance about on her 2009 debut, LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD. Opening-track single "Shine" summons the early-1970s, wrapping Tower of Power-style horns, jaunty piano flourishes, and a TAPESTRY-era Carole King pop melody around a modern soul center and a massive chorus hook. Her lyrics may be standard fare of love and loss and hope and faithfulness, but she can turn a crafty phrase when need be, and this charming opening salvo of a record runs the gamut from creeping funk to radio-ready pop.

Heralded as a prodigious talent in her teens, Laura Izibor has spent the better part of the past four years being groomed for success. The official line is that it's been time well spent perfecting her long-awaited debut statement to the world, but, given that much of the music herein has been floating around in some capacity for the better part of two years, the delay seems to result from uncertainty over how to market her: as a classic soul singer in the Aretha Franklin vein, or a contemporary R&B hitmaker in the Alicia Keys mold. In truth, the conflict is never really resolved, and it leaves somewhat of a sour taste in the mouth, for Let the Truth Be Told could have been much, much more. It starts brightly, literally, with the ebullient opener, "Shine," an uplifting horn-infused number with a soaring and infectious chorus, the kind they're not supposed to make anymore. And she's equally adept at more introspective tones -- in truth, she's in her element. Izibor's songwriting prowess comes to bear on tracks like "Mmm...," which she has the confidence to arm with nothing more than a hummed chorus, and the vulnerable/confrontational "Don't Stay," during which she boasts: "Don't stay, if you don't wanna stay/Baby I'll be OK/Believe me when I say, 'I'm gonna be alright.'" This ability to change roles and switch styles is Let the Truth Be Told's most endearing feature, but it's not without its drawbacks. The comparisons with Keys are by no means unjustified: both combine vocal dexterity with instrumental (piano, in both cases) prowess, but while Keys' mix of soul and hip-hop is well studied and refined, Let the Truth Be Told often feels like an attempt to shoehorn her way into a genre she's not quite prepared for. Witness the irritating glitch vocal samples that litter the otherwise impressive "From My Heart to Yours," or the clumsy, overly simplistic beats that pepper the likes of "I Don't Want You Back" and "Perfect World." These are not chronic problems, but they do take the shine off an otherwise solid debut for a promising young singer. ~ Dave Donnelly minimize