Krista Hartman’s New Record “Passport”
Reviewed By Mark Stothart, Cambridge University, UK : May 8th/2005

Judging by her rapturous reception at a sold-out Athabasca Hall in Peace River, Alberta, Krista Hartman is in pole position to become one of the nation’s favourite troubadours. Hartman attended schools in Alberta and Quebec before producing and performing her songs, completing an unusual musical apprenticeship with a spell in Australia and Southeast Asia as a busker. Now 26, her new album “Passport” has set her apart from her competitors.

With a talent for beautiful melodies and lyrics that mine a seam of love and loss, hers are the sort of timeless songs that make listeners swoon. Her voice, which can rise from a sensual country growl to heart-stopping high notes, is reminiscent of singer-songwriters like Sade. That’s not all that she has going for her. Her looks are a sultry mix of Arabian princess and Gap model.

It’s a sign of her confidence that she can perform twelve of the thirteen tracks on her new album with only the most essential instrumental accompaniment. And rightly so, because the album’s power comes from Hartman’s lyrics. The heartbreaking ballad “Rose”, inspired by the death of her grandmother, can silence any gathering. Encouragingly, most of the songs on “Passport” sound just as strong. How can she fail?

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