Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation August 13, 2026!

Fleau
Fleau



Album length: 11 tracks: 40 minutes, 40 seconds
Street Date: 2003


 
  
Fleau
READER RATING:  Fleau
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

Ever wondered what happened to the members of Reality Check that didn't form Luna Halo? Well, we found one of them. Rod Shuler, the familira for his rap talents in Reality Check, is now one of two members of indie-band Fleau. They play what is known as "trip hop," which is "An exotic, down-tempo hybrid or hip-hop beats and keyboards, layered with ethereal sound effects and frequently laced with breathy, jazz-infected vocals (www.fleau.net)."

Shuler is the band's DJ. He also plays bass, is in charge of programming, and lends his raps and various "uh's" and "that's right's" to the self-titled disc. His musical partner member, Marisol Laboy, lends her beautiful vocals, which make up practically the whole disc, to the music. Though the production value is sub-par, the duo does the most with what they have to work with. And they're pretty good too. They have a little Evanescence flare, as well as a SoulJahz sound. They even almost resemble Linkin Park at times. And you can definitely hear the Reality Check mark left on Shuler. But as a whole, the band is pretty different from anything you've heard before.

The disc begins with the musical "Intro." No vocals are heard, just an atmospheric voice. The entire introduction is basically just a hip-hop beat with bass guitar thrown in. After it ends, "Turn Away" begins. It starts with some DJ cuts, then moves into Laboy's haunting vocals. She sings, "I will not turn away from You, I will not hide." "Chances" has a more hip-hop beat to it and talks about taking a chance and following what we can't see. The song features Shuler's first rap appearance on the project.

Next is "Move," a simple party anthem. Though, it's interesting, the tempo is rather slow for a party song. "Until" is unclear whether it is a love song to a romantic interest or to the Father, "I believe you (You?) were sent for me." It can be taken two different ways. Shuler's rap on the next track, "Everything," sounds a whole lot like the raps of Grits, which means he's rather good at what he does. "Back to Love" talks about returning to God while "Fading" is another love song to God. "My Cherie Armour," a Stevie Wonder cover, is probably the best - and most recognizable - track on this project. Laboy's vocals beautifully complement Wonder's original hit.

The disc wraps up with two more love songs - one directly to God ("Greater Love"), and the other, that can be taken different ways ("One"). It's nice to know that it isn't just the Luna Halo guys from Reality Check that are still making good music. One of them just hasn't hit it big yet. And, with a little work, Fleau certainly should hit it big. They're a combination of different genres not heard very many places. It'll be great to see where the band lands in the next few years.

- Review date: 8/21/03, written by Josh Taylor



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the new album from ENOK

 

Record Label: None
Album length: 11 tracks: 40 minutes, 40 seconds
Street Date: 2003
Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Intro
  2. Turn Away
  3. Chances
  4. Move
  5. Until
  6. Everything
  7. Back to Love
  8. Fading
  9. My Cherie Amour
  10. Greater Love
  11. One

 

 

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Listen to the new album from ENOK

Search JFH



This Monday, September 7
SINGLES
Michael W. Smith There She Stands - Single [The Fuel]

This Wednesday, September 9
ALBUMS
Natalie Layne Still Running to You - EP [Centricity Music]

SINGLES
Limoblaze Super Power II (feat. Rua Young) - Single [Reach]

This Thursday, September 10
ALBUMS
The Protest The Protest (independent)

SINGLES
Bleach Sun Stands Still - Single [Residence]
Shayla Van Tassel Burning Out - Single (independent)

This Friday, September 11
ALBUMS
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA Unscripted (Live) [Motown Gospel]
Limoblaze Do It Now (Acoustic) - EP [Reach]
The Rock Music Not Alone (independent)

SINGLES
Philip Anthony Reminisce - Single (independent)
Johan Asgarde No Other - Single [Gotee]
Brenton Brown (ft King's College) Everywhere I Go - Single (independent)
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Free Indeed - Single [Syntax]
K3hlab The Realm of Grief - Single [Syntax]
Kingdmusic Worry About Nothing (Live) - Single (independent)
Myles Maestro SOUTHPAW - Single [Syntax]
Charly Perry Masterpieces - Single [Gotee]
Matthew Plante HAND ON ME! - Single [Dream]
QEW & Cyrus Sonata Chamber Exit - Single [Syntax]
Saints in Exile Stay For You - Single [Syntax]
Carly Ann Taylor Something Good Is Coming - Single [Curb]

Next Tuesday, September 15
SINGLES
Grace Frances The Promised Land - Single (independent)

Next Friday, September 18
ALBUMS
Anthony Brown & group therAPy Full Disclosure [Tyscot]
Cory Asbury Outsing The Angels [BEC]
Franni Cash Here I Am [Capitol CMG]
for KING & COUNTRY the most beautiful colours [Curb Records]
Hillside Recording Proverbs & Prayers (Morning) (independent)
Living Again Living Again II (independent)
Joseph O'Brien What's Good For Me? [Gotee]

SINGLES
ChristianXXII Lift Me Up - Single [Dream]
Dreamers The God Who Goes Before Me - Single [Dream]
Josh Grove I'm Done Running - Single (independent)
Steven Malcolm Kick It To My Twin (ft. DreBreeze Da Godson & DKG KIE) - Single [Curb]
Lloyd Nicks Can't Take My Eyes Off Heaven - Single [Curb]
Matthew Plante GOD FEARING! - Single [Dream]
Xander Sallows hidden treasure - Single [Dream]
Allan Scott Foxhole Prayers - Single [Dream]
Victory House Worship Returning - Single (independent)
Whosoever South Y'all My People - Single (independent)

VINYL
Newsboys Not Ashamed [Magenta] Vinyl [Girder]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images