Dream Before the Break of Day
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 11/25/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Trouble from the Start" is a confident excellent set from this delightful Virginia singer. This disc was recommended by Sloan Wainwright whose "Cool Morning" is likewise excellent. "Give me back my broken dreams, beauty isn't what it seems," Lisa sings on the midtempo title track. On "Exile" Lisa picks a lovely melody and delivers an aching vocal, "I can dream before the break of day, I'm back with you again, Then the morning blows it all away and leaves an echo of your name." Dinah Washington's 1962 set "I Wanna Be Loved" was just re-released and includes the Leonard Feather/Quincy Jones song "You're Crying." On this set, Lisa sings the tune with Jon Nazdin's bass thumping like a heartbeat and Mark Carson's brushes keeping the beat with the torch burning bright. The Bev Stanton-penned "New Year's" is a midtempo charmer, "The world flies by & I'm standing, but not landing today." Dusty Springfield had a hit with the Jerry Butler song "Brand New Me" in 1969; and Aretha Franklin re-did it in 1971. Moscatiello's breezy version comes as a joyful blast from the past. The CD concludes with the lovely torch song "Now You're In Love Again" with Lisa's confident alto filling the sonic space. "Trouble from the Start" is a joyful and confident set delivered with sterling musicianship and Moscatiello's moving vocals. Enjoy!"