Ryland Angel

Considered one of the finest counter tenors of his generation, Ryland Angel makes the switch from the rarefied world of Baroque music — which established him as an international star — to the land of pop classical on his lushly produced major-label debut. While some of the press materials tried to link him to more pop oriented singer/songwriters like Aaron Neville, James Taylor and James Blunt, Angel's stunningly beautiful, ethereal and transcendent voice will appeal just as much to fans of Josh Groban. But while Groban always aims for the big pop hook and crescendo, Angel is a little more traditional, letting most of these tracks build their feelings slowly, drifting over a colorful ambient landscape. He's at his best when tapping into the spiritual realm, giving a fresh, uplifting interpretation to the usually staid "Ave Maria" and a loving, romantic touch (with some haunting Irish flavored accompaniment) to "The Water Is Wide." The songs featuring Angel without traditional church choir textures — which seem to slow the pace down and detract from his singular beauty — are the most appealing, beginning with the lovely opener "Absalom" and reaching a heartfelt peak on "Find a Way to You," a romantic anthem which could become this decade's "My Heart Will Go On." Romantic with a religious touch, atmospheric with a sensuous heart, Angel for the most part effectively bridges musical centuries while keeping things true to his emotional heart.