Sound of A Woman

When Kiesza landed on the global dance spectrum with her penetrative hit single "Hideaway," it was apparent from the initial lyric hook this Canadian import was out for blood. With just a sampling of tracks to tease her emerging fan base,�Kiesza released a self-titled EP before unleashing her debut album "Sound Of A Woman" on the already whetted and hungry dance floor addicts that lapped at the House-infused, vocal anthems Kiesza was serving up.

Coming to New York, the gifted singer-songwriter found herself collaborating with producer Rami Samir Afuni. Though her initial song repertoire was dependent on her lyrics --�Kiesza wet her feet writing folk songs --�she was a student of dance divas Martha Wash, CeCe Peniston and Robin S. all of whom delivered some of the 90s most powerful club anthems. She also spent ample time in the throws of NYC's infamous "Body & Soul" parties.

Those often decadent and delightful Sunday afternoon events reveled in the exuberance of the House dominant club scene. You can pick up some of those influences within most of Kiesza's most supple concoctions throughout "Sound Of A Woman." The album's title track has a remarkable depth and rhythm and still banks on the artist's beautifully revelatory vocals to deliver a powerfully structured anthem.

The immediate follow-up track, "The Love," pushes the bass and treble to new heights with an infectiously joyful excitement that is among one of the album's stand-outs. "Hideaway" of course has a signature quality to it that will forever fortify the song as one of the artist's "greatest hits" --�as unique as it is in its production, the vocals blend effortlessly and in step with the song's beat. "Giant In My Heart" will also stand the test of time as an example of how the House sound plays well into contemporary EDM and beyond.

As dance-forward as Kiesza is on her premiere release, she has also delivered on some stripped down ballads that prove her elastic diversity to move easily between non-commercial club hits, EDM and pop. "Cut Me Loose" is a lovely demonstration of her song styling and lyrical dexterity, on a song that is stripped back to only a piano and vocal. Another standout exploration is the track "Piano," which has a late '80s feel that's more Prince than Michael Jackson, with a quality that is total Justin Timberlake.

Kiesza's "Sound Of A Woman" is not in the least "marginally" excellent --�it is dance floor relevancy at its best and brightest.

Kiesza's "Sound of a Woman"
is available on CD and digital download for $11.99
on Island Records