Amanda Martinez's CD SOLA is a tranquil and refreshing hiding place.

I was very fortunate to meet Amanda at the Mod Club this summer and also very honoured to receive her new CD SOLA, which when I asked her to tell me a bit about it she prepared me - " ...It will sooth you and take you somewhere else. Everyone tells me that - like you're on vacation somewhere in South America or Cuba even. Sola means "On her Own" - My first step in the path of following my own intuitiion and just going on blind faith towards my passion and just following that. M y first recording as leader and my first solo recording."

Amanda with HeadsUp photographer Sherlon Charles & Me

SOLA is soulful, and graceful. The opening song "Cantame" will melt you with the taunting of Kevin Laliberte's guitar strumming followed by a soothing violin before Amanda's voice begins. The lyrics are equally passionate and meaningful. "Guajira Sola" goes full into a bosonova, a gypsy pulse, inviting and graceful. "Diciembre" is a mellow and smooth plea of the soul. Amanda delivers a very sweet sultry tone on her upper notes that is very trancing amid the soft guitar licks and smooth horn. "Gracias A La Vida" - Here's to Life - refreshing praise to the simplicities of every day life that one tends to take for grantid set to a bouncing samba beat. "La Llorona" is a bit spooky and deep, softened by Amanda's strong tones. One of my favourites, written in English is "Dragon". A very mystical and dreamy journey of intoxicating images surrounded by weaving strings. Another favourite on this album for me is "Volar". "Only to sing...only to dance" could very well be every performer's mantra in the very need to express this creativity which cannot be quited. This expression which is "the only way to my freedom" is certainly a universal and well expressed theme in this piece set to the soft background of fleeting guitar licks.

Visit Amanda Martinez at www.amandamartinez.ca

SOLA is for me a sweet escape. A very pleasurable indulgence !

Eryn Rene Vogn

Photos by Sherlon Charles