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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Tommee Profitt x Fleurie, Gloria Regali

Tommee Profitt x Fleurie
Gloria Regali

Street Date: April 12, 2019
Style: Pop
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



While virtually unheard of a few short years ago, producer Tommee Profitt has been making quite a name for himself. Originally making headway as producer for rapper NF, his production credits now extend to include Crowder, TobyMac, Nichole Nordeman, and other CCM industry staples. Profitt's work with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Fleurie has helped propel both of their careers to new heights, and their latest collaboration, Gloria Regali, only cements the duo as a force to be reckoned with. While Fleurie's 2018 release, Portals, saw her moving towards more of a pop direction than her previous listeners expected, Gloria Regali is much more in line with her darker, more melancholic roots. JFH readers may remember her appearance on NF's Mansion a few years back, as well as her CCM solo work as Lauren Strahm.

Gloria Regali opens with its title track, thoroughly immersing the listener in what will be a string-heavy, piano and organ-infused 10-track journey. The opener flows smoothly into the second track, "Onward & Upward," which delivers more or less of the same sound and style, though perhaps turned up a notch. (Note: the lyric "fear and fable" is a clever reference to Fleurie's debut EP).

"Noble Blood" is one of the album's best tracks, doing an exceptional job of showcasing Fleurie's floating voice and delivering tasteful lyrics: "mercy, peace, and justice: cherish and protect us / battle-born they send us, covered in our noble blood." From here, the first of two instrumental tracks takes over with Profitt's composition, "Desolation." This instrumental stands out as an excellent piece of art and helps take the album in a slightly different direction.

"Winter's Song" is an excellent (albeit short) album highlight. Upon hearing this song, which heavily mirrors the hymn "Be Thou My Vision," many hymn-inspired lyrical fragments from across the album are brought into focus. "Undone" functions as a crisp shift in tone and is extremely similar in fashion (both lyrically and sonically) to Fleurie's work on Love & War, save for its electronically-infused conclusion.

"Premonition," Gloria Regali's second and final instrumental, sets the stage for the album's epic conclusion with the brooding and building atmosphere it crafts leading into the final stretch. "Midnight Oil" follows after, and is one of the album's strongest tracks. The odd combination of electronic elements, strings, and a choir, in addition to the raw vocal focus, leaves this masterpiece a bit hard to describe. The ingenious lyrics likely carry a few meanings, spiritual and otherwise: "I want a love that can take me down / show me up and cross off all my doubts / I want a fire and a steady man / come on, show me if your love can / write my name in crimson red / cross my heart and back again / I want a kingdom where my love can stand / we're burning that midnight oil."

Boasting sweet and somber lyrics, Gloria Regali's penultimate track "Remembrance" is also its most incredible offering. Simply put, it's one of the loveliest songs I've heard in years; it's only a shame that a magnificent pipe organ wasn't used in the recording; the piece is certainly deserving. "Remembrance" will easily earn a spot on the year-end highlighting list, by merit of both its composition and melody, as well as lyrical content ("like a page with a golden word puts my heart to the test / I'm a weary traveler; you're my heavenly rest / so if you call in the night, if you cry, cry / if you call my name, I will fly, fly to your side / 'cause you're the place I need to find to remember the Light"). The final track, "Sound of War," draws the album to a powerful close.

Ultimately, Gloria Regali is one of this year's greatest surprises. Its cinematic vibes and orchestral arrangements are of the highest quality, perfectly meshing alongside Fleurie's emotionally delivered, intricate lyrics. Her timeless, breathy voice was the best possible fit for this project, and Gloria Regali will indeed leave a profound mark on 2019. If you want to take a quick peek to see if this album is up your alley, I highly recommend listening to "Remembrance," "Midnight Oil," and "Winter's Song."

This album, in addition to January's Ripp + Rice album, raises the question of why we hear so few full-length artist collaborations. In an era where the industry is ever-shifting towards singles and shorter albums/EPs, it's refreshing to experience such a large, joint commitment. Together, Fleurie and Profitt have created a masterpiece; let us hope that it is far from their last one.

- Review date: 4/23/19, written by David Craft of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 35 minutes, 51 seconds
. Street Date: April 12, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Gloria Regali (feat. Fleurie) (3:24)
  2. Onward & Upward (feat. Fleurie) (3:30)
  3. Noble Blood (feat. Fleurie) (3:40)
  4. Desolation (3:06)
  5. Winter's Song (feat. Fleurie) (2:13)
  6. Undone (feat. Fleurie) (4:07)
  7. Premonition (2:53)
  8. Midnight Oil (feat. Fleurie) (4:05)
  9. Remembrance (feat. Fleurie) (4:46)
  10. Sound of War (feat. Fleurie) (4:07)

 

 

 

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This Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
2003ub313 Giants EP [The Charon Collective]
Aklesso Loner (independent)
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
The Choir Patreon Sessions (independent)
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
DJ Mykael V & 1995 BODEGA 2! (independent)
Fire From Heaven One Riff To Rule Them All (independent)
Daniel Hardin Geoff With A G, Pt. 4 EP (independent)
Impending Doom Live From Exile (independent)
LIFE Worship Stones of Remembrance: Volume 1 - EP [Integrity]
Light the Way Expel [Small Step]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
nobigdyl. Even Lower EP (independent)
Psallos Advent Songs EP (independent)
Psallos Christmas Songs EP (independent)
Songs From The Soil, Marc James Live at the Garden - EP [Integrity]
Sower The Seed EP (independent)
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]
Various Artists Fighting From the Ground Up, Vol. 4 [Indie Vision Music]
Wind and Sail Walking Club Sessions (independent)
Wolves at the Gate Lowborn (instrumentals) EP [Solid State]

SINGLES
Above the Clouds The Product - Single [Polished Arrow]
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Micah Barbosa Close To You - Single (independent)
Bethel Music Center (Live) (feat. Abbie Gamboa) - Single [Bethel]
CHANGETHEWXRLD In A World - Single (independent)
Confessions of a Traitor Doomsayer (feat. Exist Immortal) - Single [Facedown]
Drenae His Plans - Single [Syntax]
Grace Graber More Than A Miracle (feat. Jonathan Cyphers) - Single (independent)
Ashley Gronholm Miracle in Me - Single (independent)
IMRSQD Backstroke Freddy - Single (independent)
Paige King Johnson Boots Under My Tree - Single [PCG]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Brandon Lake Hard Fought Hallelujah - Single [Provident]
Mr. Weaverface O God, Help Me - Single (independent)
Jeannie Ortega Don't Ever - Single [Syntax]
Oyarsa Sundrops - Single (independent)
Pulpit Vomit Turkey Annihilation (Redux) - Single [Broken Curfew Records]
Reliance Now or Never - Single [Thumper Punk Records]
The Riverside Great Feast at the King's Hall - Single (independent)
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)
Natasha Zimbaro O Holy Night - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]

Next Friday, November 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Aaron Cole OMARI - EP [RCA Inspiration]
Dolly Parton & Family Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables [Owepar Entertainment]
The Lore Family Faith Over Fear [Horizon]
Fernando Ortega For All the Saints - EP (independent)
Earnest Pugh Worth is the Lamb
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) - EP [Curb]
Paul Wright III Reverie [United Alliance]

SINGLES
Big Dismal Here In My Heart - Single (independent)
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Hannah Kerr It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Single [Curb]
Olivia Lane Silent Night - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Wake Up It's Christmas - Single [BEC]
Jamie MacDonald A Million Chances - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ronnie Martin On Christmas Morning - Single [Velvet Blue]
Hunter Plake Daylight - Single [BEC]
Jordan St. Cyr Christ is Here - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Divine Discontent Vinyl [Word]



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