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  Free  As one of Canada's most seasoned solo Gospel artists, the Ottawa-bred singer/songwriter has been gracing the country's national scene for quite some time, placing her seasoned and in-demand versatile vocals into a variety of settings.On Free, the first project from the New York based Slice of Heaven Records, Grant Mahon showcases her big voice and soulful style, over a spread of 17 tracks. Producers Michael Graham and Tony Hibbert produce the studio project, framing it in a variety of instrumentation chosen to suit the diversity of Grant Mahon's offerings. Power ballads such as the inspirational "Rise Above" (which won the Maja Award for Canadian Gospel Song of the Year in 2003) are hard to miss, as are pop-influenced anthems such as "Neverending Love" and "I Will Praise You". Lush orchestration and keyboards carry these songs along. Selections such as "Sing & Dance" and "Who (The One)" come with a higher bounce factor and more contemporized production. Check out "All In All", where Tony Hibbert shares the mic with Grant Mahon. The piece gets an Gospel sound injection, as the Cornerstone House of Refuge Cathedral Choir pour out their praise behind the two singers.  Grant Mahon also wisely moves into other, edgier styles, revealing the extent of the color and texture of her vocals. A case in point is Hard & Strong", a dance-floor friendly, party cut with an 80's vibe. Grant Mahon sings that we'll be "moving in the Spirit till the break of dawn, hard and strong".Even further afield is "Out Of Me", which explores hip hop nuances, with Ricardo Brown adding his flow. "Get Ready", with Mike Diesel on rap interlude, addresses the topic of Christ's coming return. Rounding out the 17-song project are some gentler numbers, notably "Ah Lord Our God", which moves in a praise and worship vein, accompaniment served up with classical overtones.
Email This To A Friend Slice of Heaven Records — reviewed by Stan North —
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