Preeta – In This Moment / 2005 Starmen / 10 Tracks / http://www.preeta.com / Reviewed 01 January 2006

“Another’s World” is a pop track in the same vein as Kelly Clarkson and of the other singers (Sinead O’Connor, Natalie Merchant), and shows Preeta as completely capable of wowing audiences by the barrelful. Preeta really seems to have control of “In This Moment” as the first three tracks all have a runtime of one second of each other (two tracks at 3:42 and one at 3:43). The songs are not rehashed from an earlier track; in fact, “Good Enough” moves in a completely different direction than that taken during “Anothher’s World”.

In fact, the ska/reggae tempo of “Good Enough” is only similar to Preeta’s earlier music in that it is driven by the same perfection that makes the rest of the tracks so damn good. Hit after hit follows on “In This Moment”, and with this streak one just has to expect better and larger things for Preeta in the next few years. The music is not at the cutting edge of experimentation, but provides a nice and safe sound for those individuals that are just getting education into music. What really helps out Preeta here is a smart set of arrangements that always bolster eir own voice instead of trying to compete for airtime; this results in a vocal-led type of music with a strong but not annoying instrumental practice. The malleability of the tracks on “In This Moment” also provide a perfect canvas for interested parties to create dance tracks or different twists to Preeta’s music; while the songs do stand strong and proud, there is definitely room to spice up these tracks.

At thirty-eight minutes, the music on “In This Moment” will provide individuals entertainment while they are working or zoning out; fun and never offensive, Preeta almost seems groomed for a bigger splash in 2006. Honestly, it will be a stretch to assume that there will be much in the way of purchases of “In This Moment” by music elitists, but Preeta should have no problem pandering hundreds of thousands of albums to the average, everyday person if just given a proper chance. Preeta could conceivably cut another few albums in much of the same cloth without driving away eir listeners; I’d personally like to hear more uptempo stuff, but the slower material that dominates the disc is done in such a solid way that no one will feel put off by it. Pick it up if you like pop music.

Top Tracks: To Be Loved, Another’s World

Rating: 5.8/10

[JMcQ]