EXPANSION RECORDS

We have devoted this page to reviews of product from Expansion

Expansion Click here to Expansion site and order direct

Back to Expansion Records Review Menu - reviewed

Denise Stewart - Decide On Me - EXCDP29

Denise Stewart from Los Angeles has been the lead singer for guitarist Craig T Cooper for over 10 years and this is her first solo album and it is produced by Craig. This is a fine but somewhat unpolished album but in the main allows for Denise's excellent vocal to shine through.

The opening track 'Nobody Else will do' is a fine Modern Soul stepper picking up a nice groove though it does tend to loose momentum here and there, and there is an irritating awful guitar riff that keeps kicking in. Enough in there for a good dance remix tho' I think.

'Running Away' is a slower soulful track in the mould of say a Shirley Brown. The track is beautifully suited to Denise's voice and as it was written and produced by Denise and Craig you can see that they really know what kind of material is right - excellent track. What is also good is that there are real musicians on here, not like the 'cheaper' electronic options with many independent albums.

'Let me know' is also another very good ballad with a strong vocal. 'Love is' is mellow but quite jazzy and funky but more sensual.

'I'll never forget' cuts a different groove - kind of haunting and jazzy - with a softer but strong vocal- this is kinda nice. 'I love it when you say' goes back to a more traditional soul ballad and there's no bad thing in that, before we pick up with some more dancefloor grooves on 'The Night Before' - a bit old style and probably not strong enough for current action.

'Begin Again' is less instant as a dancer but in fact but in fact for me it does cut a groove more so than the last track. Hitting a gospelly flavour with 'I got a lover' and almost a rap on 'I got a lover'.

All in all this is a good album, solid with some real good tracks with enough to admire and hold your attention, and some tracks that will cut it on the dancefloor. 

.