Pure is presented as 16-year-old New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra's first
album, though it follows a chart-topping eponymous debut and follow-up Christmas disc, My Gift to You. Pure is still Hayley's first UK release, and capitalises on a rapid move into the international limelight following a duet with Russell Watson as part of his 2002 tour, now preserved on DVD as Russell Watson: The Voice (Live In New Zealand).
Comparisons with
Charlotte Church are inevitable, yet Westenra has her own distinctive sound. She has impeccably clear diction coupled with a gorgeous voice with a very wide range: her high
notes in the Kate Bush hit "Wuthering Heights" are especially striking, and like Bush she is also a
dancer, having performed with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. If there's a problem, it's that Pure doesn't have a focus to match Westenra's talent, the tracks
spanning everything from "Amazing Grace" to a Maori lullaby ("Hine e Hine") to hybrid pieces adapted from Ravel ("Never Say Goodbye") and Vivaldi's
Four Seasons ("River of Dreams"). Ultimately what this set does demonstrate is that whatever direction Westenra finally settles on, she has the ability to go to the very top. For now she is a young artist finding her way, and for many listeners the result is Pure magic.--Gary S Dalkin
♫ Track List ♫
CD11. Pokarekare Ana - 3:18
2. Never Say Goodbye - 3:13
3. Who Painted the Moon Black? - 3:38
4. River of Dreams - 4:21
5. Benedictus - 3:50
6. Hine e Hine - 5:25
7. Dark Waltz - 4:18
8. Amazing Grace - 3:42
9. In Trutina - 2:22
10.
Beat of Your Heart - 3:13
11. Heaven - 4:09
12. Wuthering Heights - 4:12
13. Hine e Hine (Maori mix) - 5:28
CD214. Mary Did You Know - (Bonus Track) - 3:32
15. Bridal Ballad - (Bonus Track) - 4:39
16. Pokarekare Ana (Vocalise) - (Bonus Track) - 3:07
17. My Heart And I - (Bonus Track) - 4:20
18. Across the Universe Of Time - (Bonus Track) - 3:43
19. Silent Night, Holy Night - (Bonus Track) - 3:19
20. Away In A Manger - (Bonus Track) - 2:22
Duan Ying - Qin Yin Soul Beauty (2006)
