Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation August 13, 2026!

Fleau
Fleau



Album length: 11 tracks: 40 minutes, 40 seconds
Street Date: 2003


 
  
Fleau
READER RATING:  Fleau
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

Ever wondered what happened to the members of Reality Check that didn't form Luna Halo? Well, we found one of them. Rod Shuler, the familira for his rap talents in Reality Check, is now one of two members of indie-band Fleau. They play what is known as "trip hop," which is "An exotic, down-tempo hybrid or hip-hop beats and keyboards, layered with ethereal sound effects and frequently laced with breathy, jazz-infected vocals (www.fleau.net)."

Shuler is the band's DJ. He also plays bass, is in charge of programming, and lends his raps and various "uh's" and "that's right's" to the self-titled disc. His musical partner member, Marisol Laboy, lends her beautiful vocals, which make up practically the whole disc, to the music. Though the production value is sub-par, the duo does the most with what they have to work with. And they're pretty good too. They have a little Evanescence flare, as well as a SoulJahz sound. They even almost resemble Linkin Park at times. And you can definitely hear the Reality Check mark left on Shuler. But as a whole, the band is pretty different from anything you've heard before.

The disc begins with the musical "Intro." No vocals are heard, just an atmospheric voice. The entire introduction is basically just a hip-hop beat with bass guitar thrown in. After it ends, "Turn Away" begins. It starts with some DJ cuts, then moves into Laboy's haunting vocals. She sings, "I will not turn away from You, I will not hide." "Chances" has a more hip-hop beat to it and talks about taking a chance and following what we can't see. The song features Shuler's first rap appearance on the project.

Next is "Move," a simple party anthem. Though, it's interesting, the tempo is rather slow for a party song. "Until" is unclear whether it is a love song to a romantic interest or to the Father, "I believe you (You?) were sent for me." It can be taken two different ways. Shuler's rap on the next track, "Everything," sounds a whole lot like the raps of Grits, which means he's rather good at what he does. "Back to Love" talks about returning to God while "Fading" is another love song to God. "My Cherie Armour," a Stevie Wonder cover, is probably the best - and most recognizable - track on this project. Laboy's vocals beautifully complement Wonder's original hit.

The disc wraps up with two more love songs - one directly to God ("Greater Love"), and the other, that can be taken different ways ("One"). It's nice to know that it isn't just the Luna Halo guys from Reality Check that are still making good music. One of them just hasn't hit it big yet. And, with a little work, Fleau certainly should hit it big. They're a combination of different genres not heard very many places. It'll be great to see where the band lands in the next few years.

- Review date: 8/21/03, written by Josh Taylor



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the new album from ENOK

 

Record Label: None
Album length: 11 tracks: 40 minutes, 40 seconds
Street Date: 2003
Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Intro
  2. Turn Away
  3. Chances
  4. Move
  5. Until
  6. Everything
  7. Back to Love
  8. Fading
  9. My Cherie Amour
  10. Greater Love
  11. One

 

 

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Listen to the new album from ENOK

Search JFH



This Friday, August 21
ALBUMS
Band Reeves How To Forgive [Centricity]
CalledOut Music The Room [Integrity]
Grace & Xandy Here Again [StowTown]
Latter Day Exploits Going Home - EP [The Charon Collective]
Romeo Miller New Lane [SoNo Recording]
MotionPlus, Braille Still Dreamin' - EP [Gospel Banquet]
Lauren Talley Walls (Part One) - EP [Horizon]
Terrian Mad Big World [Gotee]

SINGLES
Lady Audri A Lady's Prayer - Single [Syntax]
Bleach Once Again Here We Are - Single [Residence]
Chris Caro RESTLE$$ - Single [Syntax]
Franni Cash Jesus Girl - Single [Capitol CMG]
Jordan Colle One King - Single [Bethel]
Dex the nerd who loves Jesus A Sinners Mercy (ft. tonyxtrotter & TNV) - Single [Syntax]
ELEOS Anchor For My Soul - Single (independent)
Gable Price and Friends One Bedroom Apartment - Single [Capitol CMG]
goodwill. CAN'T BE - Single [Syntax]
Fervor, My Dear Glass In the Sugar - Single (independent)
Grace Frances Waiting For Me - Single (independent)
Kingdmusic Never Fail (Live) - Single (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs Always Get the Grace - Single [Horizon]
Steven Malcolm Holy Water (feat. Soul-Rebel Marley) - Single [Curb]
Eddy Mann We Are - Single [MTS]
Matt Moore Learning to Breathe - Single (independent)
No Vain Glory TALUKA - Single [Syntax]
Matthew Plante LOST SOULS! - Single [Dream]
Marvin Sapp He's Not Finished - Single [Elev8]
Victory House Worship Rapha - Single (independent)
WallerCo, John Waller Daddy's Here (Journee's Dream) - Single (independent)
Matthew West Here and Heaven - Single [Story House / Provident]
Anne Wilson Who I Am To You - Single [Capitol CMG]

Next Friday, August 28
ALBUMS
Anthem Edition Something's Goin' On - EP [Sonlite]
Bill B. Niche [Syntax]
DOE Shiloh [Provident/Sony]
Every Moment Holy: Prayer Songs, 2026 Q3 Anchoring the Heart in Hope (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Do Not Go Gentle (Live) [Bethel]
I.A.N. I AM NEW [Syntax]
Prevailer Convalescent [Rottweiler]
John Van Deusen As Long As I Am in the Tent of This Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise Pt. 2 [Anotherland Records]

SINGLES
Tim Hughes Make A Way (Live) - Single [Integrity]
Katy Weirich & Jake MacAdam Holy Ground - Single (independent)
Tae Lamar So Alive - Single [Polished Arrow]
John Long Trust In Him - Single (independent)
Adam Michael Pass the Parcel - Single (independent)
Mountain People Worship No Lover Like Jesus - Single (independent)
Lexly Nirvana True Story (ft. VerbPro 12:4) - Single [Syntax]
John Pape The Road - Single (independent)
Leslie Perez Waiting For - Single [Gotee]
Matthew Plante KEEP FOCUS! - Single [Dream]
Simply Worship & Sam Daniel Lamb of God - Single (independent)
Ryan Stevenson Eye of the Storm (Anniversary Edition) - Single [Gotee]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images