RELEASE OF NEW SINGLE

Gifty is due to release a new single
in the summer 2005, titled
'YOU BRING THE SUN OUT'.


GIFTY OVIRE – SIMPLY GIFTED (2000)

The last 5 years of the last millennium were especially good for UK gospel. More artists than ever before broke the recording barrier – it must be said – varying degree of artistic and commercial success.

However from a ‘big picture’ point of view at least, more talent – and by logical extension the message of Christ – is getting out even more through music. Sticking with this perspective, Gifty Ovire’s 6-track debut EP is yet another great example of a well-put together independent project.

Two things are immediately noticeable about the project: the quality of the recording and the packing. Time and effort were obviously spent on both to offer something more respectable than your typical independent release.

The selection opens with WIN THE LOST. The rhythm programming on the song bumps and has faint African rhythmic influences. As the title suggests it fashions its lyrical foundation on the concept on evangelism.

HE’S BEEN FAITHFUL is a slow ballad extolling the consistent presence, mercy and grace of God through all things, and evoke gratitude.

Gifty Ovire covers Labi Saffre’s Anti- Apartheid SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG. As one of the more challenging songs anyone can choose to cover as the original (in my view at least) is perfect, Gifty does a sterling job, and the re-interpretation of tempo, arrangement, rhythm and saxophone refrain floating throughout the songs results in a commendable effort.

GOD’S LOVE is the strongest tract on the EP, with an outstanding bass and rhythm program driving the melody, this was the song I heard on the radio that made me go out and buy the CD in the first place. The lead and backing voice arrangement is superb and Gifty simply takes the song by the scruff of its neck and SINGS it.

The acoustic version of HE’S BEEN FAITHFUL, (simply called FAITHFUL) features Gifty accompanied by only a piano. This version probably needed more emotional range than Gifty offers here, but what she does deliver is highly commendable.

If you’re into your gospel for head bobbing, foot tapping, ‘this is my jam’ songs, start the CD by listening to this first the programming (both music and rhythm) easily fit into the same ‘exceptional’ category as the DEANY BOY remixes of The WADES songs. Producer Charlie Boskic pulls out all the stops to present a thing of Urban Contemporary beauty here.

All in all, an excellent debut EP form an artist that hopefully will be around for a while. While this production is very strong, it also holds this promise of good things to come, not just for UK Urban gospel industry, but form Gifty herself.