Malaco Urban – the delta review

After a 15-year absence, Bebe and Cece Winans have returned with a new album called Still, a remarkable album which bridges the gap between gospel and R & B music. With a contemporary production style that would be at home on mainstream urban radio, Bebe and Cece address both love and appreciation for God (“Grace”) and fulfilling love between husbands and wives (“Still”, “Close to You”). “Things” warns about the proper place of material goods in the world, and “Reason to Dance” makes it very hard not to move, while the delightful, reggae-tinged “He Can Handle It” reminds us that no problem or disaster is too big for God. With Still, Bebe and Cece Winans have largely avoided the sound of traditional gospel, but the message of trust in God and love for God and others comes through loud and clear. A masterful work indeed.

Dallas-based Dondria is the most recent female singer to be introduced to the world by Jermaine Dupri’s venerable So So Def imprint, now distributed by Malaco Urban. Her debut album is entitled “Dondria vs. Phatfffat” (“Phatfffat” was a childhood nickname), and reveals immediately her extensive vocal gifts. She is a fine and versatile singer, with a clear, powerful and expressive voice. The songs, of course, deal with the usual currency of R & B, songs about break-ups (“Where Did We Go Wrong” and “No More”), pleas for a second chance (“You’re The One”) and songs about sex (“Making Love”). The best of these have a strong summertime vibe, however, and make for pleasurable listening, particularly “No More” and the “Jeep Remix” of “You’re The One”, with its familiar “I’d Rather Be With You” sample. The final slow ballad “Kissed By The Sun” leaves the realm of R & B entirely for the world of pop, demonstrating Dondria’s versatility and mainstream commercial potential. Altogether, Dondria vs. Phatfffat is a respectable first outing from a voice that I would hope to hear from in the future.