Indie rocker Tifah comes roaring out of the Colorado hills with her startlingly mature debut, "Safe & Sound," and I am bowled over and encouraged by her appearance.
Roar may not be the most fitting term for her gentle wisdom, but Tifah's huge personality is certainly roar-worthy. I love the eclectic canvas she paints with her ethereal vocals, intuitive arrangements, and sizzling instrumentation. The bright tension is immediately apparent in the first strains of opener “Because We Are,” much of it having to do with the rich talents of violinist Aubrea Alford. Tifah’s unique voice, distinctly warm and yet always delicate, injects emotive charm to these well-crafted songs, adding interest to the pop track “Reprieve” and introspective power to quiet piano ballad “Wreck of Innocence.” I hated to see the hushed tones of the brief “Requiem” come to an end.
Piano-driven rock ballad “Closet” celebrates our liberation, Tifah’s expressive vocals matched well by Alford’s sizzling violin, a standout track exemplifying Tifah’s maturity and reflective perspective. She tackles issues of the soul and spirit with brave vulnerability and gutsy honesty, especially appealing in the context of these pristine, nuanced arrangements. Other noteworthy tracks include the powerful “Enough,” the simple vocal composition emphasizing the song’s stark surrender. A moving song of regrets and, yes, faith, closer “This is Love” resonates deeply; again, its simple instrumentation allows its straightforward truth to shine with the force of a lighthouse beam. Like I said, Tifah roars.
Robbie Seay produced Tifah’s debut album, released in February. This is a fascinating piece of work that all can be proud of. If there’s any justice in the world, we’ll hear more from the illustrious Tifah.
