Australian native, Michelle Tumes returns two years after her successful debut, Listen, with Center of My Universe. Her silky smooth vocals drift through her soft music to give a real earthy feel. Reminiscent of such artists as Enya, Center of My Universe, sets up a soft plush listening experience soothing to the listener with string instruments, various percussion, and synthesizers.

The album begins appropriately with "Deep Love," a light yet catchy song about God's love, much like the following track, "Heaven's Heart." This arrangement is driven more by the percussion and supports Tumes intrumentative vocals whispering through the track. She slows down the tempo even more for "Lovely," creating a purely worshipful setting. "Do Ya" picks up compared to most of the previous tracks, dropping the vocal echos and whispers as she lets her voice carry itself through the power-pop tune. Oddly enough, she returns back to the previous mood in "Immortal" but with a rawer form of her voice like in "Do Ya," mixing with an occasional hum and breeze. The rest of the album continues in this altered mood with the exception of "Chant," which is merely what it says it is, done with the feel of the opening tracks.

For fans of Tumes' previous record and anyone looking for some new relaxing music, I suggest giving Center of My Universe a listen.

- Review date: 4/17/00, written by John DiBiase