BOOSWEET ONLINE

We have devoted this page to reviews of product available from Boosweet Online at Boosweet Click here to their site for the following albums and more. Boosweet is run by Vernon Neilly and we will be featuring him by means of an interview in due course. He will doubtless tell us more about his activities both musically and commercially.

We will start with a few reviews of product either from the Boosweet stable, or available from the Boosweet outlet

Vernon Neilly - Kaleidoscope - Boosweet

We will learn, or you can read on the Boosweet site, that Vernon has worked with and learned from an impressive array of artists. This, so far as I am currently aware, is his first 'solo' album from the year 2000. It is broadly well produced, guitar led, moody, adult orientated, multi influenced, drawing from classical, jazz, Latin, R&B, rock, pop, easy listening and blues.

'On the wind' is classical jazzy acoustic guitar with a nice sax courtesy of Howard Alston who is also featured on a couple of other tracks. Again the sax leads us into 'I feel love' which is slightly mellower. 'Baby come back' featuring a distant vocal of Chester Davis and prominent chorus - nice cut. 'Para Carlos' features Vernon's versatile guitar work.

There's some Caribbean flavas on Nassau Party, and 'You're the One' is a blues-y number but the vocal is weak. 'Khalif's Space Jam' is very interesting, very space'y and grooves along quite nicely and quite funkily, but without a hard edge like say the P-funk thing, but I was certainly thinking in that direction. The Rap Version however gives it that harder edge, but even two years on the rap sounds a bit dated, more of a Sugarhill rap than a KRS -1!

All in all a versatile well produced album which is a showcase for Vernon's talents rather than being an album aimed at a particular genre or marketplace.

Stan Patterson - It's your world - Boosweet

Tell you what the first track on here 'Do I look like a fool' (with David Day) really hit me. Nice mellow modern soul groove with a Stan's deep rich voice prominent, good hook and one that grabs you in the head. Brilliant track.

Otherwise I don't think the album quite comes up to that track but don't let that put you off the rest of the album because it's well worth a listen. It is a mixture of duets and collaborations with David Day, Ramasees Brown, Vernon Neilly, or solo cuts. What is true though is the deepness, the texture, the warmth and the power of Stan's voice and it is clear to see how is a true worker and performer

Running quickly through some of the tracks 'Girl I see you here' I found a bit messy. 'Dancing in the rain' I believe was a single release and pre cursor to this album - slow moody and deep with female chorus, a song that builds. This is a fine cut. 'It's your world' reminds me of someone, it's slow and kinda dated - maybe Isaac Hayes with those long drawn out deep monologues - if it's not it's that kind of texture. Another David Day assisted track - it seems that for me they are the best ones!

'Windstorm' is mellower, softer in vocal delivery. 'I give my love to you' is one of those songs that I'm sure goes down well live. Sort of a soul cabaret ballad but reaching the depths of his range, and delivered to that pretty thing in the front row, with a pretty red rose!

There's something about Stan's voice that makes you want to stay with it and it is one that is destined for success.

Monique - Are you down with me - Chereese

I really find myself liking this album very much. There's nothing earth shatteringly standout on it, but that's not a bad thing. It is solid, consistent and eminently likeable, and one that I find I am playing over and over again. Monique's voice is predominantly in the higher ranges and the album is mostly mellowish (but contemporary) and easy but warm and just good being there!

'Take it slow' is mellow in the extreme as the title would suggest, or suggestive title perhaps, and good beat and good opening cut. 'Mr Heartbreak' opens in a more R'n'B style with mix DJ style rap. Reminiscent in groove and content to Zhane's Hey Mr DJ. 'Star 69' has a more ragga style rap but again in a soulful R'n'B groove. Monique's voice actually sounds very 'Lovers Rock' Jamaican stylee to me.

'Are you down with me', the title track, has like the other tracks has a prominent bass line, and a chorus and style like mid 90's Swing. There is some more 'standard' balladic material like Bacharach and David's 'One less bell to answer' and Monique is equally comfortable on this as with the sensual ballads, or the grooving R'n'B material. 'Baby love is hot' is a track in the latter vein. The closing track 'Better get ready' is another top cut with a hardish R'n'B edge but a track that is slow and sensual.

As I said at the beginning a good album. Well produced and well delivered. Vernon had a hand in writing nearly all the songs, and producing and it is clear that he knows the artist well, as she feels so comfortable on all the songs.

Forte - Here I am - Excalibur

This seems to be a few years old - 1995 release but most of the tracks are 1993, and some go back to the 70's and 80's. Most tracks feature lyrics by Forte herself.

'Prove it' is a great track, excellent voice prominent and well extended. Good soulful midtempo beat. 'Do it right' is another midtempo groove, very much consistent with good 90's soul, probably my cut of the album.

'Closer' is in a sense similar to the above in that it is a good soulful track, but more of a ballad.

'Can you feel what I'm saying' a Minnie Ripperton song where Minnie's extended range is required and which Forte ably and comfortably covers.

Wanted to like this because it is lyrically strong and provocative, 'Love Slave', funkier cut than previously but it wasn't one for me I am afraid. I'm afraid even though this probably predates it when I here this title I think of the awesome cut by Undacova. 'Why', again is in a kind of 'Minnie' mood and is probably the best slowie on the album.

'Surrender', contains good vocals over a complicated drum pattern. Concludes in fine style with the dreamy imagery of 'Island of Love'

There are a several tracks on here that I really like, and I am sure that there must be more from where this came from - I am going to have to find out.

Charles Wright (of Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band) - Going to the party - Million Dollars worth of Records

This low key release from 1998 completely passed me by, so it was with great anticipation that this CD hit the decks, having been a great fan of the 60's and 70's material. There must have been a 'gap' of some 25 years between the last known output (to me) and this. Anticipation was enhanced by the statement on the cove that it was 'played by human beings, not by machines'. Also an impressive array of musicians that included Paul Humphreys, Clydene Jackson, Hodges James and Smith, Gloria Jones (The Gloria Jones I assume), Brenda Lee Eager, Fred Wesley, among many other, and a testament to Charles credibility.

The props are also interesting including the likes of Leon Haywood and E Rodey Jones (R'n'B time, is a disc I have, a spare copy of, framed up!)

However, while the album was good to hear and listen to it didn't have much that really excited me. Charles's voice didn't seem to hit and some that were distinctly middle of the road (No time for hating, for example and the pointless 'Happy song')

Accentuating the positive there were still some good time, 70's influenced, funky numbers like  'She don't believe' 'Groove it' and 'Going to the party' bringing back memories of how it used to be, not only in content but in construction. 'Make love 2 u' is for me is the best of these but 'Throwing in the towel' comes close

Also there are some good downbeat ballads like 'I'll give you time' and 'Let me make love to you' which actually also invoke memories of an earlier age

'Is it real' is a great track that Charles' strained vocal seems to suit, good piano work and 60's group sweet soul backing. This is for me by far the best track on the album, six minutes of soulful pleading.

'Good loving man' is also worthwhile being a much bluesier outing.

 In some ways a refreshing album but in terms of content also a disappointing one, but also worthwhile.

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