This lady can sing the blues.
Unlike so many contemporary female vocalists today, singer/songwriter Lorraine Devon Wilke (http://www.lorrainedevonwilke.com) can really reach into her gut and unleash those buried emotions with scorching intensity. No, I'm not talking about screaming, which is what numerous women musicians do these days, especially post-Alanis. Wilke has a grip on her voice as an instrument; it is raspy like Bonnie Raitt's but conveys strength as well as compassion and sorrow. She is able to shift gears with her vocals effortlessly, illustrating the feelings in her words. Her voice also reminiscent of the sisters from Heart, Wilke balances sweet and sour with equal aplomb.
The power of Wilke's singing is revealed immediately as it builds up in the opening track, "Drowning." "Somebody give me an anchor/Somebody throw me a line," she pleads, her vocals set ablaze with fiery passion. The blues is all about emotion, and Wilke is in total control; she is aware of when to reign it in or when to let it rip.
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There's much sadness on this record, and Wilke's poetic heartaches draw blood. In "Comfort Me," she sings, "You play the role of being undecided/While I just suffer love like a bitter wine." This is personal, powerful, and intimate material. Nevertheless, the love song "My Good Good Man" opens the door to sunlight.
A mixture of blues, country, and acoustic pop, "Somewhere On The Way" distinguishes itself from its competition with its soulful songwriting and a new voice that crackles the ice.
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