by Steve Huey
The incredible range of Thomas Otten's lovely voice is a happy accident: instead of shifting wholly to a lower register during puberty, it simply added that depth to Otten's boyhood vocal range, allowing him to sing contralto as an adult (in addition to more typical parts). The results, as displayed on his debut album, Close to Silence, are frequently stunning, with Otten using his increased expressive powers to achieve a correspondingly wide emotional range. New-age fans will likely find this album inspiring and uplifting.