Bliss Bliss

Description

The self-titled, sole album by the American pop-rock band Bliss Bliss (husband and wife Lang Bliss and Reneé Garcia Bliss) was released on R.E.X. Music in 1994. The album was recorded and mixed by Russ Long and was produced by Lang Bliss with Long co-producing.

Biss Bliss is Lang Bliss and his better known, better half, Reneé Garcia. Reneé has achived some well-deserved attention for her solo efforts, as well as being one of the most sought-after backing vocalists in Nashville; Lang also has amassed impressive credentials as a session man. Recording as Bliss Bliss for the first time, the couple offers a dozen delightful tunes which connect their R&B influences with Euro-pop and jazzy rock. Co-executive producer Chris Eaton arranges their voices into sophisticated stacks, with almost every song displaying classy vocal moments; «Flight for Peace», «Building Bridges» (with its choral backing), «House of Cards», «Chain of Fear» and «Field of Daisies» are especially outstanding. Lang has also recruited a number of impressive musicians to underscore those vocals. John Painter’s bass parts are inventive and melodic in a number of settings; the percussion tandem of Lang and Eric Darken color the rhythms nicely, while pianist Blair Masters, guitarists Gene Ford and Tim Pierce and horn player Mike Haynes all add understated support. The 12 tunes were composed by Bliss y Bliss, with occasional assist from folks such as Eaton, Patsy Moore and Keith Brown. Lang and Reneé focus on both horizontal (their marriage) and vertical (their walk with God) relationships, a lyrical approach that adds a great deal of humanity to their music. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, December 1994]

There’s always a danger when a label tries something outside of its expertise. R.E.X. is not famous for churning out the pop music. R.E.X. is better known for independent-edged rock.

Which, if you can judge such things from the final product, is both a benefit and a liability for the husband/wife duo Lang Bliss and Renee Garcia. The benefit is that R.E.X. has allowed them to infuse their pop music with imagination and intelligence, making it an above average Christian AC/pop album. The liability is that one wonders if R.E.X. may have reigned their artistic vision, hoping to keep it accessible to the cheese crowd.

Tracks like the upbeat «Fight For Peace», the sloping, moody «Field Of Daisies» or the slick ballad «When The World’s Asleep» toy with jazz and funk elements just enough that you know the pair are influenced by smart popsters like Seal and Sting. It helps that they have help from John Mark Painter on bass and Eric Darken on percussion; the downside is that somewhere in the mixing or the production, the Painter/Darken spice is only sprinkled in… this album could have had a much stronger flavor.

Ultimately, there is more intelligence, taste and maturity lurking beneath the waters than is actually allowed to surface. Bliss Bliss is a strong first entry in the world of “Christian adult contemporary” music; hope runs high that next time, her rich, strong voice and his knack for left-of-center pop sensibilities will be allowed to truly shine. [Chris Well, Syndicate # 41, 1994 (Vol. 9, Iss. 5)]

CD tracklist:

01. Fight For Peace
02. Building Bridges
03. Field Of Daisies
04. A Little Love
05. Believe In You
06. When The World’s Asleep
07. House Of Cards
08. Modern World
09. Walking Through Paradise
10. Chain Of Fear
11. Love And Devotion
12. House On The Hill

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by R.E.X. Music.