I remember a time when I was younger, and my dad gave me a little cassette of Karen Carpenter. I had never really heard a proper female singer before, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I finished hearing the tape. Laura's voice did pretty much the same thing ...

Check out Laura's friend Carla at www.melodrift.com

Just a few blocks from the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank of the Thames I found the quaint King Arms pub amidst a row of 18th century Dickensonian brick row houses. The back skylight covered room of the pub provided an intimate setting to see the show promoted by the Acoustic Trip. Quenching my thirst with a deep dark pint of Guinness I sat back for an enjoyable evening of music, and Laura and Chris were the first act on the bill.

Opening with their signature song “Without You” Laura sang with a passionate, powerful voice. Her wonderful smile and expressive eyes captivated the audience. Looking into Laura’s eyes and hearing her sweetly sing “ ... tell me you won’t go, I am all you need ... will you come back to me”, one thinks that a man would be a fool to leave this lovely, loving woman. It was a heartfelt, moving, magical performance. Using dynamic changes and a wide vocal range, Laura's voice is even better live than it is on their recordings. And with training in drama, Laura is a polished and accomplished performer who strongly portrays the characters in her songs. Co-writer Chris paints the mood for Laura with his lyrical keyboard and warm back-up harmonies. The opening act on a six-act show, Chris and Laura were truly the best of the evening ... it left me hungry to hear more of their tasteful music. They are an act that should play live often, to treat the world to their magical music.

Check out Laura's friend Radio Free Tunes at www.radiofreetunes.com and Enchantress Radio (featuring Laura) at www.artistlaunch.com/enchantressradio

Greetings from the Land of Phrygia.

First off, let's get a few things straight. There's a distinct reason why I am reviewing Laura's music, and those reasons are threefold:

1. I am in a bad mood.
2. This genre is not my forté.
3. I need something to revive my spirit.

This is the perfect scenario in which to delve into Laura's music, and I have actually waited for this moment. How can I possibly be willing to perform a review when I am in a bad mood, and moreso, I don't usually listen to this type of music, and what the hell do you mean, you need to revive your spirit? Ahh, that's the catch; I AM in a bad mood. I had a bad day, simply put. Why doesn't matter, but let's just say I could break a brick with my tongue, I'm so upset.

Additionally, I am not about to go digging through my massive CD collection for the perfect
track to soothe my soul; I expect instant gratification, because that is the internet's purpose, in a very melodramatic and twisted way.

So, I sit at my computer and peruse the library of one Laura J. and Chris, hoping that their
music will do exactly what I have envisioned it to do. I wish for my inner being to become suddenly calm, at ease, one with the world, because either I suffer from extreme bi-polar syndrome or I have mood swings that are inexplicable even to myself. Either way, I am bound to the quest, and something must give. Either I become even more upset, or I am cooled.

Synopsis: Cooled. More than cool, I am frozen in delightful blissed harmony, and this music is the key. I chose "Summer" on purpose, because I wish not to hear Power Pop, I wish not to hear about how my ignorant person can become closer to God, and I certainly don't feel like a party is going on in my house at this very moment. But there
is a party - it's happening right now, and this is the perfect music in which I can now dispense with all my narcissistic bullshit and become clear in the intention I originally wished to serve.

This is music that tames the most fierce of beasts. It cools lava flows, it settles riptides, it flattens the atmosphere. As Laura claims, "The sky is blue". Laura J. Bollé, in all her cuteness (freckles and all), is more than just a voice in the crowd - she is an accomplished liberator of the female cause - she proves that man cannot simply exist without the yin and yang of sultry sounds pervading the atmosphere. She has graduated with highest honors from London's prestigious Vocal Tech music college, and began working with Chris Kalessin (her musical accomplice) a few months ago as part of trip-hop artist Alison Cooper's live band. It's quite
simple to understand that Laura is more than just a voice, she means more in every respect toward the nature of musical appreciation and especially creation. She presents structure, form, style and especially maturity in the sense that only a very few can possibly grasp, yet millions wish to attain.

Chris Kalessin found this as a perfect opportunity to claim his ground as a prolific
jazz and pop artist, especially on the keys and ever since this pseudo marriage took place, nothing but wine flows from the water. "Summer" invokes the mood of a brisk sun-laden morning, drenching you in warmth, yet cooling you like an
expertly mixed Cosmopolitan. From the outset, you can instantly feel the drawback to influential 60's and 70's lounge armadas, yet the music causes one to be perfectly enchanted within the 2K spectrum, because of the amalgamation of
styles.

You name it, it's in here: Verve, style, cool, retro, absolute musicianship, and most importantly, suave regard for the listener. This means that the music of Laura tends to be so in tune with the human psyche, especially that of being mellow and happy, that it transcends the simplistic "Acid Jazz" and "Power Pop" genres, and sits you right in the middle of being
'there'.

The synth keywork is amazing. The guitar is superfluous, yet binding. The drumwork has no bearing, because this is vocal music, although the percussives are astounding, and completely original sounding, like a close sit-in with Crucethus at a firepit, as he displays the lifelike abnormalities that somehow make sense in a twisted world. The vocals, well, let's just say
that if you ever watched 'American Idol', this is the girl you'd be rooting for. She has it all - sumptuous melody, distinct originality, and her dialect touches all. Chris expends all his energy in the right direction - he makes interplay between various instruments seem synonymous, almost downright related, as though
they all meant to live within the same communal aspect. This is what I was looking for; exact and to the point.

You want some likenesses? How about Sade, if she were to drink fifteen Lattés - how about Barbara Streisand, if she were to shed her impenetrable and gaudy Broadway armor - and Lovespirals, if
Ryan Lum were to actually think that jazz can be FUN, not always so serious. BTW, we highly suggest you check out Lovespirals, because if you like Laura's music, you'd definitely fall for them. http://www.lovespirals.com ... Visit that
website and tell me that Anji Bee and Laura aren't on the same page - intrinsically.

All in all, back to the first paragraph, mission
accomplished. I am at ease. I am mellow. I love music, and I love the world, especially when two suns burn in my solar system, namely Laura and Chris. A most excellent and certainly prodigious attempt at making man unite, Laura J Bollé's
music excites, calms, reveres, and replenishes the empty soul. You can't get any better than that.

Listen quick, and download all you can, because they WILL become one of the few chosen to lead this generation into the future of music, especially XM radio, mark my words. If I have anything to do with it, it will be so.

Listen to Laura's friend Phrygia at www.soundclick.com/phrygia

'Without You' is a stunning pop ballad from Londoner Laura J Bolle. Backed by songwriting partner Chris Kalessin, Laura's vocals float over a layer of piano and synths creating a beautiful arrangement that showcases some of the best that pop music has to offer.

Laura's style is somewhere along the lines of Sade, Mariah Carey-(in her better moments) and Tori Amos. Short and sweet, 'Without You' is a simple ballad that finds beauty in it's music and vocals without trying too hard to get it right. Catchy as a pop song, but also maintaining an air of sophistication, it will be appreciated by younger and older audiences alike.

Check out Laura and more quality music at www.gigatracks.com

I could exhaust myself in a disarray of words, feelings and emotions to express the beauty and intensity of this song, but it would be futile exercise for the truth is only one: this is a wonderfully intense track, full of passion and lovely thoughts expressed beautifully in words and music. It tore my heart apart.

Still feel all funny inside. Superb vocals with Laura really bringing the best out in her. Powerful interpretation, wonderful voice. Chris's piano playing is simply out of this world. I feel knots in my stomach. I love his style, beauty through simplicity and yet that simplicity cannot be accomplished without the knowledge to do so.

Well done both of you, and thank you for sharing your music with us.

Check out Laura's friend Carlos at www.carloswilde.com and www.soundclick.com/carloswilde

A moving song ...

A trapped, aching sense of loss and a wonderful voice. Laura's range is amazing, and she plays heavenly with it. The piano on this ballad is awesome, and the overall production and harmonies are really great. My only complaint, if having any, is that the lyrics of the song are too simple, and at some points a little bit on the standard of love songs ballads, but Laura takes it beyond the words into an awesome atmosphere of sounds with her delicate voice and perfect control, in a more than remarkable performance.

This girl needs a major label ... that's all she needs, sounding the way she is. But as I always tell, this is my opinion - go LISTEN TO the artist, and discover it yourself!

Check out Laura's friend Priscilla at www.yidneth.com