Colour Moving and Still
Date Unknown

Chantal Kreviazuk
Colour Moving and Still
(Columbia Records)

Chantal Kreviazuk is a mysterious woman. On her latest release, Colour Moving and Still, she cloaks her voice under shades of sound - both acoustic and electric. Like a dreamy angel or a soaring bird of prey, Chantal twists and glides well above the clouds before dropping far below the rough waves of the soul.

On "Blue," the album's opener, this spiritual singer/songwriter begs the question, "Where were you?" It's simple enough on the surface. But the question pushes into secret corners. She asks in amazement, "You've never seen the color blue?"

This Canadian diva continues to expand and evolve past the songs of her first disc. On this CD she bullets straight ahead into pop. But she also tends to dodge the melodies in favor of more subtle music. The track "Dear Life" is both soft and elusive. It is certainly one of the finest moments of the album.

Many other songs here are also heavy with introspection. Tracks like "Until We Die" and "M" drop into swirly head trips. With their mesmerizing turns and misty perspectives, these songs offset other tunes that push simple arrangements and streamlined melodies.

As a singer, Chantal taps into many styles, both overt and sublime. She uses her voice as an instrument. Whether searing through sonic dust clouds or purring across a quiet passage, her intention is clear.

Though her voice is glassy and smooth, it is sometimes difficult to understand her words when they're covered with translucent layers of electric and acoustic guitars, keys and bass grooves. But it hardly matters. Her aim is true. Through the music we can hear her fear and uncertainty swim across the sound. It's not always pretty - at times emotion spills over. But this is the real deal. These are the moments that make our lives worth living. And Chantal's songs worth listening to.

Colour Moving and Still is a record that captures an uncommon mood that we've all experienced many times. It's the eerie glow that fills in the spaces of our lives. These spaces are quiet, but powerful. By adding music to the invisible, Chantal Kreviazuk sings the songs that we cannot quite hear. Songs that touch us gently and push our souls a little bit closer to something pure.

Jeff Leisawitz