By Tim Wood

"The Pieces Fit" is the title of an excellent album from the singing duo Considering Lilly."

The title has multiple meanings. The obvious is the title track of the album. Another meaning, as suggested by information on the duo's web site, is that new lead singer Jeanette Herdman fits with original member Pearl Barrett.

Musically, producer Barry Blair, formerly of the Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline, has made many seemingly incongruous music alelements mesh into one of the better albums this writer has heard in some time.

The pieces include retro-sounding synth patches that, by themselves, would sound cheesy. But Blair and Michael Quinlan, who produced several of the cuts, mix the sounds into edgy alternative pop sounds.

Herdman and Barrett gave the producers 12 good songs with which to work.

Other collaborators include Quinlan, Charlie Barrett and Blair, as well as Audio Adrenaline member Bob Herdman, Jeanette's husband.

"Great Expectations" kicks off the album and gives the listener an idea of the sound of the project. "Today," "Great Big God" and "I Want to Need to Know You" are among the stronger songs. "Whisper" and "Electric" are harder rocking songs.

Herdman's vocals range from a whisper to almost girlish tones all the way to full out rock. As a vocalist, she rarely does what the listener expects - but the result always works. Barrett contributes some solo parts as well as harmony lines.

When Pearl's sister and Considering Lily co-founder Serene Allison left the group to be a full-time mother in early 1998, there was some question as to whether the group would continue. Barrett felt she was still called of God to carry on the group.

Eddie DeGarmo, Vice President of A&R at ForeFront, came up with the idea of putting the two together, admitting that it was a long shot. The pair started writing together two days after they met, and things fell into place after that.

The pieces fit, and the listener is the beneficiary.