TRIPPA - SORRY - 2007

Released in October 2007 and first available at the Summers' End Progressive Rock Festival is the tremendous seventeen track collection on Trippa's 'debut' album Sorry (Tigermoth Records (UK) CDTMR5, 2007). These songs, originally recorded in the late 1990s have long been awaited by those following the artists. Rob Reed and Christina Booth wrote and performed the tracks prior to their most recent collaboration in Magenta, but the material is timeless, highly accessible female fronted rock. We are as pleased to hear this material finally as the artists were to release this album. Trippa's line-up is rounded out by Ryan Ashton (drums) and Rhiannon Stundon (backing vocals). Visit the Trippa website for rare video footage, interviews and photographs.

Listeners will of course hear reworked versions of the four tracks on the 1999 Trippa EP and these indeed do sound great. But what enthusiasts are likely to be most delighted with are the rare tracks that have been locked up for almost ten years and are now only seeing the light of day. The CD is accompanied by a full color booklet with photos from the Trippa era and full lyrics. And with the liner notes noting credits, Listen carefully to the backing vocals for Rhiannon Stundon, previously thought to be another layer of Christina's work.

Christina's vocal clarity and tremendous power heard across a wide range of Magenta's tracks is already evident in the classic rock music of the 1990's Trippa. Listen to her crystalline vocals soar above the keyboards in "Alone." In addition to the stunning track "Speechless" now frequently performed by the Magenta lineup, and the everso Trippa classic rock styled "Drowning," a variety of straight rock, electronica, funk and John Barryesque Bond Theme music graces the album.

Rob Reed speaks of John Barry-styled themes in his online interview. While some may think from the track list that it only appears in the standout "The Spy Who Got Away," we were delighted to hear that Reed wrote several tracks in that style for this Trippa album. Barry-styled themes emerge in the choruses in contrast to the verse melody. Christina's voice is perfectly styled against grandiose film theme music. If the James Bond film clan made a movie entitled The Spy Who Got Away, Trippa's highly accessible 4:00 radio friendly song would certainly be the main title theme. Listen for the classic Bond theme within the instrumentals.

And the duo continue the filmic theme in the highly accessible "Dream Tide" and the stunning "Whipping Post," one of our all time Trippa favorites. These tracks all have sweeping choruses with stunning layers of vocals atop rich Barryesque orchestrally styled instrumentals. "Strange Sensation" also draws on this style of instrumentals in the choruses providing a foundation for Christina's highly varied vocalizations.

While every track is graced with Christina's stunning vocal work, the duo obviously worked hard to create a wide variety of listening experiences. "Crash" is a 90s style pop number and actually offers listeners elements of punk, aggressive guitar riffs and vocal effects typical of the period. A thick rhythm section and the vocal distortion that characterized 1990s dance music forms a component of of "Rendezvous." Reed blends in rich keyboard washes while layers of Christina's vocals soar evocatively at the top of the mix.

Clearly "Save Me With Your Love" is the most dance oriented track of the album. The album would have been incomplete without it. Crystalline vocal layers rise above the thick rhythm section and warm keyboard washes. The album concludes with the funky 'bonus' track "Purify." Christina's stunning vocals far outweigh the guitar-laced instrumentals both in verse and chorus to make for a delightful listen. Trippa's Sorry album is a long-awaited must for all female vocalist enthusiasts and essential for Magenta fans worldwide.
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