GOLDSOUL

www.goldsoul.co.uk

Reviews to come:-

The Elgins – Don’t wait around

Ambelique – Talk Like That

The Elgins – Don’t wait around

Ambelique – Talk Like That

I am not sure of the rationale behind the forthcoming release of these two outings, suffice to say it is probably a creditable effort to put out some sides of a more modern style that will have the ability to crossover to the more traditional ears. Both of these sides succeed to some degree and both have some merit.

Ambelique is the better of the two, an indemand side on its Jamaican pressing. He is a well known performer in reggae circles starting out with Derrick Harriott and also working with Sly and Robbie at Taxi, and has connections and followings within the UK, New York and Ja scenes. Sweet mellow vocals, catchy hook and persistent modern soul beat. One of those that hits you straight away but like most of those they tend to lose their appeal almost as quickly as they gain it.

The Elgins is more traditional ‘northern’ in structure. Despite being remixed it still retains that ‘tailor made’ feel so it will not appeal to all the die hards even though it retains, the beat, the hook, the good vocals, the style that those supposedly require. On the other hand the mix is not sufficiently fresh so as to appeal to the house brigade either.

On a more philosophical point both sides whilst appealing enough do not contain enough if any Soul. They have the right ingredients to appeal to a certain audience, they conform to perceived criteria, they fit. I do not have a problem up to that point, that is fine and I wish them success.

However I find myself being more and more critical of ‘the soul scene’ and what it endorses. I may expand on this in an ‘editorial’ one day and it is unfair of me to go into detail here as it would infer a criticism particular to this product, which it is not intended to be, as it is a much wider ‘issue’ than that. Soul for me is, actually, much more than is in the grooves. Remember the old sentiment ‘Do what’s right not what’s white’ - well there’s too much the other way around for my liking.

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