D'Bora - E.S.P. (1991)

With talented producers like Steve "Silk" Hurley (one of the giants of house music) and Joe Smooth on board, E.S.P. should have been a dancefloor gem. But most of the time, this collection of dance-pop, house music, and urban contemporary is pedestrian and mediocre. D'Bora's girlish performances lack confidence, and she usually comes across as an uninspired singer who is simply going through the motions and has no genuine feeling for the material she's been given. Nonetheless, there are a few times when this CD comes alive. "Better Life," "Happy," and "Love Desire" are deep house numbers that benefit from decent production. (Deep house is a style of house music that emphasizes vocal personality and picks up where the late-'70s soul/disco of Gloria Gaynor, Thelma Houston, Double Exposure, and others left off). But for the most part, E.S.P. is a lackluster disappointment. It's best to pass on this album.~E.S.P. Review by Alex Henderson