The Redemption Center - Land Of Plenty (Blind Records)
I suspect this is an earnest attempt to give more than the norm, but there’s an almost soulless drive sending this music to you. Stilted songs sung in a stilted voice for the most part, with too literal lyrics that don’t allow the listener’s own imagination to soar. Music made without the gaps to let the heart and soul filter through… it’s all trussed up and delivered, you see.

“The Boy Who Shed His Skin” is a redeeming moment, the production and performance hinting at being a shade looser, helping this song to fly out on lighter wings. The title track follows, and is perhaps the best thing on the album, with the added female background vocals and the playing with zip (although the lyrics do begin to get a little overformal, which then pervades the rest of the album).

Perhaps J. Stephen Smith, the central figure in The Redemption Center, could loosen his grip on all things here. The rest of band might just be able to provide a counterpoint to his work, and give their next album a little more space than the box cupboard on show here.
www.theredemptioncenter.com

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