So what among the tumble of releases is sophisticated in a soulful vein & worth the effort? It's not at all ''breaking news'' that Norwegian singer Beady Belle (Beate S. Lech) has a powerful voice because that's an old tale. What's more pertinent here is that 'Truth Wide Open' makes sense. Blessed with a very strong melody and lyrics beginning with an electronic clamour that are in no way trite (a difficult feat in itself) actually seriousness is part of the message it's soul like Natalie Williams habitually delivers and with the same sense of soaring, definitive declarative persuasion that crackles with intent and leaves enough shades of grey to make you think about what Beady is singing rather than letting it inanely wash all over you in another domain. The lyrics put the confessional protagonist's cards on the table there's nothing left to hide under the surface/nothing can hurt us as if in the wake of some seismic event and a rising tension as Beady goes high up into the stratosphere of her range and envelops the elegant sound space created all around. The keyboards backdrop have a satisfying softness, there isn't too much layering in other words, and the keyboards purr along in the groove comping quietly insistently. Beady Belle's own accompanying quasi-gospellised backing vocals are folded in ingeniously by the singer who also plays keyboards in the blend and does programming with additional programming added by Bjarne Gustavsen and keyboards from David Wallumrød. In three words: Effortless mastery throughout. Out today