GOAPELE
Strong as Glass
***
Still sounding strong.
The first track non-Goapele fans will know has to be Hey Boy, thanks to the fact that it features Snoop Dogg. Which is an intriguing fact considering Goapele has never left her neo-soul cocoon. Well, until now.
Strong As Glass is the most experimental album that the singer (born to a South African father) has done. If you listen to songs like Insanity and Strong As Glass, you get the feeling the singer is trying to revive the ’90s new jack swing kind of R&B. On Powerful she comes off as a member of Destiny’s Child and there are nuances of Timbaland’s signature sound from the Aaliyah days.
Neo-soul fans should not despair as you will get your dose in songs like Truth Is and Last Days. They might not be as classic as her breakout song Closer, but they will do. If you have her album Break of Dawn, and enjoyed Play, then you have an idea what Last Days will sound like. Overall, this is not a mainstream album, but you will be playing it again a long time from now. – Munya Vomo