I don’t know if Toronto based singer songwriter Sarah Cripps is related to celebrated guitarist Colin Cripps, but if she is, talent runs in the family. If not  she is a rising star of her own.
Her new Cd “Change,”  which will officially be released on Feb. 4, is an addictive selection of 11 country/ folk / pop songs.

 The Brighton born Cripps, barely into her 20s has been playing in public since she was nine, played her first show at the renown Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto at age 13 and has a resident gig at the Gladstone Hotel. Her debut CD shows her experience.

She has a big, resonant, blues tinged voice with a  solid mid-range that is  immediately appealing. She is reminiscent of Alannah Myles  on slower tracks like “Can’t See Me Here.”

 But on more upbeat tracks like  “No One” and “Stole the Summer,” she joins the ranks of celebrated alt-country Canadian songstresses like Kathleen Edwards and Kim Stockwood.

 Tracks like “Off the Love,” are up tempo highlights and “Kissed By the Sun wouldn’t be out of place on modern Top 40 country radio.

“ Not the One ” is hauntingly beautiful with sighing slide guitar and echoing voices.
 ”Change“ is a captivating listen all the way through.

Lethbridge musician Brenna Lowrie shines on her ethereal debut CD “Body Electric.”
 Her sound is tough to describe, though it is definitely acoustic. Her voice is a mix of Joni Mitchell and Hannah Georgas.

 She begins with the tenderly picked instrumental “Placencia,” which features some nice  cello playing from guest  musician Kris Hodgson.
 While she plays most of the instruments on her CD including guitar, keyboards drums on a couple tracks and even harp and percussion, she draws from Lethbridge’s deep well of musical talent to fill out her ambient, multi-faceted sound.

 Clayton Smith plays drums on several tracks, Jesse Northey adds bass and guitar on a couple others, while Paul Holden and Tyler Stewart add bass to “Sorry Still” and “Split” respectively.

 The Cd is very ambient, very folky, but also has an unusual exotic sound on a couple of tracks like “Fragile Ground.”
“Year of the Rabbit,” has some fascinating progressive rock elements.

“Modern Era,” is one of the highlights on the CDs if only because she picks up the tempo on it and has some interesting harmonics  to wind the song down.
 She has a very pretty, spooky voice throughout and can hit some pretty high notes, which are an acquired taste.
“Split” is another highlight with some unusual sounding chords.

 She ends on a high note “Get Better,”  on which she adds a Janis Joplin edge to her voice.

If you like your blues with a  lot of jazz and organ, then you will love Dalannah Gail Bowen’s new CD “Them Menz.”
As expected, there are  a lot of songs about men and the women they wrong. Her smoky. jazz tinged voice is a blend of Rita Chiarelli and Suzie Vinnick, but very laid back. Throughout there is plenty of piano and lots of soulful vocals.
“I’m just a girl who sings the blues,” Bowen belts out on “Move Too Soon,” one of the many highlights on the CD which reflects the spirit of Janis Joplin.

 She slows things down on one of several powerfully crooned mellower tracks, on “You’re Not There.”
 She adds several big name musicians including Steve Dawson, who adds lead guitar on a couple of tracks. The Sojourners  sing on “Who’s Fooling Who,” an upbeat, toe-tapping highlight featuring some subtle slide guitar from Steve Dawson. They end the song in a bout of hysterical laughter.

“Just For Today,” is one of the more sultry jazzy tracks.

 She has some fun with the sultry “Mean Man,” which is reminiscent of Tina Turner, a soulful mid-tempo member powered by a slinking bass.
Michael Creber’s keyboards, both piano and Hammond organ make this CD sing as they are the perfect complement to Bowen’s smooth voice.

 She has a beautiful, dusky voice which shines on slower tracks like “Just Don’t Like The Deal,” which features a beautiful organ solo and sultry bass.
 She ends her CD with the well crafted ode to peace, “The Spirit Within,” which begins with First Native chanting and picks up the tempo with an up beat yet laid back jazz tinged blues groove.