Giovanna drops LP
I-TUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lumiere-lullabies/1351992750
Austin, TX based singer, Giovanna McDanel, has teamed up with guitarists Mark Kassenbrock and Giovanni Mera to record her new album entitled – Lumiere Lullabies. The album brings a lullaby angle to jazz standards, traditional celtic song, and various songs from Disney movies like Anastasia, The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins and more. But there’s more to the story, as it goes, because she covers them with her voice and two guitars dueling around her to come up with some of the greatest versions of these songs to be heard. They’re done with a hundred percent faith to the originals with her recognizable touch.
Giovanna can cast her own spell on songs, and that’s the first thing worth noticing about this entire album of smoldering covers she brings her own brand of beauty to. These aren’t just run of the mill versions, they’re handled with care, never slipping for one second from beginning to end. In-fact, you won’t want it to end, it’s a marvelous album. “Once Upon A December” leads the track list off with her version that will have you pushing loop once you hear it. This track does have more than guitars to back it, but that just gives it more leading impact as the fine opener it is.
The album contains classic like “Over The Rainbow” which must be heard to be believed. This isn’t something you disgrace, and her version is no exception to that rule. It’s as good as Judy Garland in its own way because Giovanna makes her own footprints, and the guitars are magnificent. Make no mistake this is all done very professionally, rather than the typical album of covers. “Feed The Birds” is the Mary Poppins tune that gets a new sparkle from Giovanna’s commanding voice, which again equals or might even surpass the voice of the original. It’s a tall order, but she delivers what passes with flying colors.
The great thing is that she chose some tracks that you’d wonder why because they’re hard to put anything new to add enough to change anything about them. However, it’s the way she sings them and how they’re backed by the guitars that bring out their own tasteful aspect to remove all doubt about the song choices for this album. Even “Edelweiss” will keep you ear attracted throughout, as they bring something to every track that makes it stick. The same can be said for “Nature Boy – Beautiful Things” and the lovely “My Own Home” from the Jungle Book soundtrack.
It’s a soothing solution to a lot of the norms modern music can bring. And it’s done with covers, imagine that. It’s done with integrity and that is why, and always the case when this amount of respect is paid to the music by coming up with that so much of your own values to bring to it. “River Lullaby” is brilliant, but you’ll have to do some of your own research if you possibly don’t already know something on this album. “Hushaby Mountain” once again is most relaxing, showcasing Giovanna’s vocal prowess to be that of premiere class on an album that merits top marks. And don’t miss the closer “Gartan Mother’s Lullaby.”
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/2M2kfzDxbM6sGrqcFCkZ0T
Mindy McCall