• Band / Artist : Angela Ortiz – mySpace
• Genre : Alternative / Pop
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

The first thing that struck me square in the ears when I first listened to this CD, was the similarity to Tori Amos. Fortunately however, this proved to be more musically, rather than vocally. Don’t get me wrong, I used to enjoy the early Amos stuff, but I think she started walking a bit too much on the wild side for me. Where Amos’ voice is filled with angst, anger and at times frustration, Angela’s has a soft, soothing and comforting tone.

“Everyone Changes” is the track that opens the album and you can’t help but draw the Amos comparisons. The piano is very prominent, as it is for many of the tracks on the album, but it’s the voice that soars and really captures the imagination. “Dustpan” really shows Angela’s great command of the piano. “Days of Lemonade” could indeed be an Amos track, but there are hints of other influences in there too. “Finish What You Started” is a more rounded track, with a nice drum accompaniment and it is sufficient in giving the track a much fuller sound. “Mr Thomas” has a dreamy, ethereal quality and is just a sheer delight to listen to. It’s probably one of my favorite tracks on the album. “Steven” is another track that has that personal feel to it and again has that fuller sound, with what sounds like some clarinet, trumpet and harpsichord, along with the usual piano and amazing vocals.

“Last of Who We Are” has a very reflective feel to it and oh how those vocals really grab you. There’s no escaping the Amos influence again with the track “We Must Be Alright”. It’s probably my least favorite track on the album, but as is often the case, it’s more personal preference, rather than a reflection on the tracks qualities. “Cheshire Cat” is a song, with a very interesting vocal intro, leading to a song of great whimsy, with a very relaxed and fun feel to it. “All About You” the title track, is one of the few title tracks I’ve reviewed lately that actually has some merit in being the title track. That’s not to say it’s the perfect choice as a title track for the album, but with a voice like Angela’s, it’s hard to go wrong. The album closes with “Song for Lost Friends” and has a very personal feel to it. Certainly a wonderful choice of song to finish on.

Conclusion : An amazing first album that draw many comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush, Tori Amos amongst others. For anyone who appreciates a more personal album, this is thoroughly recommended.