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“Add Your Light to Mine, Baby” – Lucky Soul
(Words/music: Lucky Soul, available on The Great Unwanted, Ruffa Lane 2007) 

Two parts of “Add Your Light to Mine, Baby” stand out the most.  First, Ali Howard’s voice finds a sweet spot between clean execution and soulful embellishment.  She extends a few syllables and bends a note or two but never to the extent a pop diva might elaborate melodically.  This generally precise execution serves the song well – over-performing the vocal, particularly with all of the motion in the arrangement, would weigh down the song.  Instead, Howard goes just a step beyond a precise performance right off the sheet music, adding just a touch of personality to her performance.

“Add Your Light to Mine, Baby” needs this relatively clean lead vocal to support the horn melody.  The vocals melody is catchy, but the horns provide the song’s hook.  This repetitive phrase (including when the key changes near the end) overpowers Howard’s vocal, and it’s simple phrase only makes it catchier.  If Howard tried to compete for space with the horns (and I have every reason to believe she’s capable vocally), the song would suffer.  Instead, her vocals play a supporting role at times, particularly when she settles in on a longer note.  Rather than make her light the brightest in the band, she’s willing to share space.

More on Lucky Soul: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm