s="h3color tiny">This review is from: Laura Mvula With Metropole Orkest (Audio CD)

I cannot give this work anything lower than 3 stars because I just love Laura Mvula's voice. However, for me the orchestral arrangements are overkill. The simplicity and clean lines of the original recordings are lost to the heavily produced score. Green Garden - the piece that originally made me a staunch fan - is so diluted in the orchestral interpretation; that clean staccato percussion rhythm line is just not there. I think her music speaks for itself and doesn't need the assistance of an orchestra. Her voice doesn't need the cover. I look forward to her future releases, but I hope she retains simpler arrangements for at least a portion of her work. Sometimes bigger is not better.

Laura's music is something I am so grateful to know about, and that's an understatement. I first knew of "Green Garden", loved it, then fell off the radar with Laura for a bit and didn't think to listen in to more of her music. She came to me during a time of great need, her music is perfect to cry and laugh to, and really nice if you just want to sing! Got the regular album off Amazon, bought this version too, immediately, just because I knew it would come in handy. The orchestra adds another theatrical and majestic element to the album; I didn't even know it was possible for the music to be that much more beautiful. Now I can say with assuredness that the live "Green Garden" on this album is my number one Laura track, though every song she's created gives EVERY other artist a run for their money...hopefully I can see her in concert one day, thanks Laura Mvula for giving the world this gift!