Andy Michaels
Through song, Andy Michaels sure knows how to lift your spirits. His new selection “Angel” featuring vocalist Kerry Ironside has the popular Australian singer/songwriter putting to song a shoulder tap. You’ve had one – where someone seems to be looking out for you, an invisible touch. Now, take that thought further and you have Michaels’ song – there are living angels around us and something within our human spirit that reminds us we have some folks looking out for us.
It's no wonder, then, that Michaels’ enlists a choir to further bolster Ironside’s vocals. You are my angel, I can’t wait for you to sing to me, you’ll sing to me…let your love shine for everyone to see, Ironside sings. The acoustic guitar, and a puffy percussion base guide her. The loftiness of this song is further imprinted with an enchanting, beautiful guitar. A dazzling light and piano orchestration glisten. The backing music is so starkly different, so Disney-like.
Ironside’s voice is not what you would expect. Husky and finely weathered like a favorite rocking chair, she adds bold coloring and enchantment to a lovely song. Her cadence is perfection and the cracks in her voice provide an even broader emotional connection. At first it reminded me of the way your voice sounds scratched when you’ve been crying. I imagine Ironside’s heart is just bursting while singing this song. So much of the sentimental moments and the stunning backing choir must have been breathtaking to witness. This song begs to be performed outside, at an amphitheater just moments before the sun goes down. Confined to a miniscule speaker or head phones seems sinful.
“Angel” takes the listener to a reflective state-of-mind, yes, but it also makes you look a little differently at your family and loved ones. Michaels’ certainly has a unique perspective on an angel looking out for him – at age 18 he was involved in a serious car accident. Confined to healing, he took up guitar playing and songwriting and never looked back. One could argue the impetus for his songwriting was someone from above looking out for him. Michaels’ song “Angel” and the hundreds more in his collection, comes from a deep, spiritual place in his heart. It might not be traditional religion, but his music definitely comes across as powerful. Michaels’ gift to his listeners in “Angel” is the satisfaction of being a part of a community of listeners that feel the song’s presence just from Ironside’s voice. And that choir – talk about uplifting. My goodness, what an added bonus. It doesn’t reshape “Angel” the choir enhances “Angel”.
Music lovers of many genres should flock to listen to “Angel” and add to their Spotify playlists. I even think classical music fans will be comforted by the tones and mood settings. Did I mention how much I love the choir? Fans that enjoy Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Peter Cetera (Chicago), Jeremy Camp, James Taylor and more should take this leap of faith. I’m on cloud nine after listening to “Angel”.
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Trace Whittaker
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
9/2020
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