It can be startling what you will find beneath the surface of the pop mainstream. It's not all about underground rock anymore; with the affordability of home recording and CD duplication, all genres are being represented in the indie scene. R&B singer Maylyn Murphy (http://www.maylynmurphy.com) is a great example of how the original do-it-yourself philosophy of punk rock has long transcended its roots.
From the packaging, the album production, and the hook-laden commercial appeal of the songs, you'd think Murphy was on a major label. Then again, it might not be long before she is so. On "Body & Soul," Murphy has no difficulty in switching tempo, from the swaggering hip-hop of "Did You Fall" to the rainfall melancholy of "My Goodbye." Murphy doesn't pigeonhole herself. With such a soulful voice, she could be complacent and keep everything within the slo-mo speed of a Norah Jones ballad. But this is a young artist with something to prove, and she obviously has no worries about taking risks.
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On the opening cut, "Come Back to Me," Murphy's silky smooth singing envelopes the pulsating keyboards around her with a blanket of blue-valentine warmth. It may or may not have been intentional, but Murphy's vocals gain emotional strength and sharpness as the record progresses. On "Love Will Keep Us" and "You & I," Murphy is downright seductive, her voice smoking with sex appeal.
"Body & Soul" reveals the thoughtful, heartfelt perspective of a woman who is in love, has been in love, has been hurt, and has lost a close friend. Those are all universal themes that deepen the experience of listening to Murphy's music.
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