| Larry Hoppen has assembled a collection of soulful original music going back to 1979 for his latest CD, Hand Made. The tracks include live cuts, demo tracks, and full-blown production masterpieces like the adult contemporary duet, "Keep On Shining", with female vocalist Terry Pinkham, that sounds ready for Disney to snatch as a power ballad behind another animated masterpiece. Hoppen's voice is perfectly smooth and soulful, and his lyrics are personally revealing. His songs touch a chord in anyone who has juggled a musical life and love with the rest of traditional family life. Particular highlights include "Closer to You", a beautiful tune that chronicles a husband's need to be closer to his wife and understood; "My World Stopped Turning" is a soulful bit of earcandy within a heart breaking recap of a hard break-up; and "A Season to Remember" starts as a bare piece with piano and vocal that allows Hoppen's unique and trained voice to shine as he reflects on special years gone by. Hoppen reminds me of David Pomeranz in the way he phrases his lines and writing - touching listers with ease. This 25 year veteran of Orleans (Still the One) keeps getting better. |
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