Kaleidoscope

On first listen, you might think hip-hop-influenced R&B grooves and irresistible pop hooks like these would only be encountered on a secular record by the likes of, say, Jennifer Lopez or maybe Janet Jackson. You'd be quite wrong. Rachael Lampa may put the bulk of her lyrical focus on praising the Lord and examining both the joys and the trials of maintaining faith in an ever-changing world, but the high production values and rich sonic textures could easily compete with those of Ms. Lopez or Ms. Jackson. Things kick off on an up note with the aggressive "Savior Song," punctuated by sharp blasts of heavy electric guitar. Subsequent cuts move through more subtle R&B tones ("I'm All Yours"), lush balladry ("No Greater Love"), and funky widescreen pop-rock ("Sanctuary"), but it's Lampa's flexible voice that provides the thread of continuity and focal point of the eclectic arrangements on the appropriately titled KALEIDOSCOPE.