Modern Musings – Grooves from the Modern Side with Mark Randle – April 2004

Previous reviews here : - Summer 2003 modernmusings October 2003 modernmusingsoct  January 2004 modernmusingsjan

(These reviews appear first in Soul Up North, available from Howard Earnshaw, 19 Rectory Drive, Kirkheaton 44 1484 535999 £2 per issue – email soulupnorthhfe@aol.com – web www.soulupnorth.org - Big thanks to Howard and all at Soul Up North for letting me feature this)

 

As we move into 2004 we reflect on 2003 from a musical perspective, and review what few new releases are around as the music industry kick-starts itself back to life for a new year.  It’s just as well that we have the year-end charts to look back on, and fill some of those column inches, whilst giving you the chance to see what did it for me over the last twelve months.  As usual, it’s Artist/Title/Label, and I hope you find this informative and that it helps you to obtain those last few choons you may have forgotten about.  Let’s hope this year is as musically fulfilling as last.

 

Kashif                                      Superfly/So Emotional/Crazy Luv etc + debut album cuts          (US Brooklyn Boy CD “Music From My Mind”)

 

As that great crooner (?) Max Bygraves once said……….”I wanna tell you a story”.  Back in 1983 when I were a lad, Kashif’s debut set for Arista was responsible for opening my ears to a whole new world of music, at a time when I misguidedly, and with complete bigotry, thought that soul music recorded after 1973 was to be avoided like the plague!  My excuse then was age and peer pressure.  I’m too old to use those excuses now, and in more recent years have done my best to be completely open-minded about soulful black music.  I hope you will agree that the column bears out that attitude.  Anyway, what’s the point of all this I hear you ask?  Well, this is actually a double CD with CD1 containing mainly new material (with the exception of a couple of cuts from his last offering on Expansion) and CD2 contains those cuts from the debut Arista set.  Of the new material, “So Emotional” seems to be garnering most attention, and it’s easy to see why, but I particularly like the mid-tempo catchy groove of “Superfly” with it’s great harmony BV’s.  “Crazy Luv” is a great mid-tempo swayer with a nice sentiment…..hell, it’s –5C outside and this cut has warmed me up a treat.  “Sexy Girl” & “I’m Down”, although perhaps not to everyone’s taste on the modern scene, inject an urban feel to vary the appeal of the set.  The track listing is all over the place, but that aside the whole CD is pretty strong.  Anyway, back to those 80’s cuts, and yes, they do sound dated, but in an acceptable way.  Indeed, “I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)” and “Help Yourself To My Love” still get regular plays “out”, but just listen to “Stone Love”, “Don’t Stop My Love”, “Say Something Love” and the one that started it all for me via spins from Adam at Leicester all niter circa ’83, “Rumors”, and you’ll realise you’re in the presence of brilliance here!!  He’s a top fella that Kashif and one of life’s big disappointments was his no-show at Fleetwood some years ago.

 

 

Simon Grey presents Abby Joyce         Prophecy                                                                      (EU Purple Music 12”)

 

Ignore the image of the Ali G look-alike on the cover of this, because this is a stunning cut that blew me away immediately on first hearing.  I seem to recall Mr Grey resides in Australia, and this cut comes out of the Purple Music stable in Switzerland…..we’ve commented before in this column on the size of the net needed to bag some of these quality choons.  Anyway, this has everything, a tremendous popping bass, keyboard work kind of reminiscent of those 80’s productions (don’t let this put you off!), cow-bells and 70’s styled string stabs……..yes, there’s a lot going on here.  To top this off we have a great male vocal performance.  You know something?……I paid £6 for this slice of prime vinyl, and after listening to it in home, went on the internet to see a cyber-conversation about £300 70’s 7” records, and my immediate reaction was…….why when there are records like this around for a measly few quid?  Of course, I know the answers to that rhetorical question, but it did make me think.  An essential purchase and one that SHOULD see plenty of dance floor action at the more open-minded venues.  

 

Felicia Adams                           No One Else/Share My Love/Save Your Love              (US Lady Boss CD “Read My Lips”)

 

A direct purchase from the internet this, with the customs form of the package filled out by Felicia herself!  Now, I know it’s been done to death, but there’s no doubt that the killer cut will be the “Night’s Over Egypt” based “No One Else”.  Utilising that groove, I need say no more than this is set to fill floors the length and breadth of the country as we head into spring.  However, “Share My Love” should not be ignored, being a bass heavy mid-paced number with excellent BV’s…..perhaps one for the more discerning floors methinks.  “Save Your Love” has a nice sassy feel, but as with many of these indie offerings, is that bass line distorted or is it just me?  “Don’t Take Your Love” is a more than worthy pleading, emotion drenched beat-ballad, building in the vocal stakes as it goes…….nice.  One or two of the other cuts get a little too “jiggy wit it” for these ears, but I’m being a little picky and all told, this is a solid album.  I believe this is being touted for a UK release.  Quality stuff.

 

 

 

Big Moses                                            Deep Inside                  (US Big Moe 12”)

 

Moise Laporte (Big Moses) returns with the first cut for his own Big Moe label, and a real winner it is too.  Despite the somewhat monotone vocal performance, there is something really quite engaging about this cut.  Obviously set at an uptempo beat, though it’s the strummed guitar that somehow seems to drive this along.  This has a nice jazzy feel to it with some lovely deep horn stabs on the hook and nice keyboard work along the way.  Get it bought!

 

 

 

 

Willie Clayton               Whipped/Keep Steppin’/Love Zone     (US Endzone CD ”Changing Tha Game”)

 

Willie Clayton returns with album number 1,379 (just jesting…….he’s pretty prolific though) and this is his best effort for some time.  It’s almost pointless singling out individual cuts as it’s a pretty solid album if you ignore the throw away opening cut and similarly awful final cut.  Sure, it’s not exclusively real instruments, but the electronic instrumentation is pretty tastefully done in the main.  The thing is though, Willie Clayton is just such a great vocalist.  I just love the rolling “Whipped”, a great radio-friendly cut, and the clipped percussive “Love Zone” floats along nicely too.  I think he had been listening to R Kelly’s “Step In The Name Of Love” when he wrote “Keep Steppin’”.  It’s fair to say that this piece of feel good soul music could be a bit of an anthem in the vein of the aforementioned “Step…” or “Up & Outta Here”.  Hell, even his stab at “I Want You” is not a bad effort, certainly worthy in the vocal stakes, but it’s one of the few cuts let down by the electronics.  Ignore the material of one Mr Willie Clayton at your peril.  Great album.

 

En Vogue                                                                     Ooh Boy                                              (US 33rd Street CD “Soul Flower”)

 

This is a bit of a stop-press job as I haven’t had time to digest this CD in its entirety and time’s running out on me.  That matters not because all you need to know is that track 3 “Ooh Boy” is essential, and is set to become a floor-filler in the coming months.  Borrowing heavily from Lucy Pearls “Don’t Mess With My Man”, this cut strides along with a great bass-line propelling it all the way.  This is as instant as they come and another essential purchase.

 

Cheers         Mark   (Feb 2004)   

 

50 Soul 2 check 4

1.        Barrington                                     Makin’ Love (Ugobo Ent.)

2.        The Chestnut Brothers                               Travellin’ On (Abdent)

3.        Sirius B Project                             With You (Café de Soul)

4.        Tiffany Laing                                The Return (12 Tribes)

5.        Willie Clayton                               Tell Me (Endzone)

6.        Marlon Saunders                         Love Serenade (Black Honey)

7.        Howard Johnson/Regis Branson              Really Doesn’t Matter (Soul Japan)

8.        Marc Vanclaggett                        I Want You (Marlex)

9.        Deborah Bond                              Always In My Dreams (Deborah Bond)

10.     Anthony Hamilton                   My First Love (So So Def)

11.     Miles Jaye                                     Should’ve Been Strong (Black Tree)

12.     Tony Love                                    Unconditional Love (Tony Love)

13.     Chardavoine                                 Illusions (CM)

14.     Israel & The New Breed              Real (Epic)

15.     Mary J Blige                  Willing & Waiting (Geffen)

16.     Kelli Sae                                         Can’t Wait             (OGW Ent.)

17.     Jeff Hendrick                 Fine (Late Nite Hang) (Bout Time)

18.     Earth, Wind & Fire                       Suppose You Like Me (Kalimba)

19.     Sara Devine                                   Take Me Home (Columbia)

20.     Unified Tribe                 Love Destiny (Magic Muzik)

21.     Ellis Taylor                                    Last Night I Cried (Lookalive)

22.     Darwin Hobbs                              Unexplainable (EMI Gospel)

23.     Kindred & The Family Soul        Far Away (Hidden Beach)

24.     Dwele                                             Find A Way (Virgin)

25.     Steve Cole                                     Tonight It’s On (Warner Bros.)

 

26.     Kelly Price                                Back In The Day (Def Soul)

27.     The Isley Brothers                  Prize Possession (Dreamworks)

28.     Luther Vandross                     Think About You (J Records)

29.     Omar Cunningham                  Half (On Top)

30.     Marvin Gaye Project               Music Feel The Soul (Choonz Inc)

31.     Tower Of Power                      Nothing Like It (SPV)

32.     Lil’ Jimmie                                 Hold On (Butlers)

33.     Jimmy Sommers                       What Am I Gonna Do        (Higher Octave)

34.     Rue Davis                                 Lay Me Down (Knock On Wood)

35.     Walter Thomas                        Open Up Your Heart (Walter Thomas)

36.     Walter McCarty                      Heaven (Ice Storm)

37.     Maya Azucena                        Like No Other (Nu Media)

38.     Aretha Franklin                       Holdin’ On (Arista)

39.     Gary Des Etages                      No Compromise (FER)

40.     Seek                                           Something Real (Dome)

41.     John Stoddart                          Falling For You (Reprise)

42.     Erykah Badu                        Back In The Day (Motown)

43.     A. Ray Fuller/Phil Perry          Work To Do (A Ray Artists Music)

44.     Al Green                                   I Can’t Stop (Blue Note)

45.     Bill Coday                                 It Was A House…… (Ecko)

46.     Alicia Keys                              You Don’t Know My Name (J Records)

47.     Antoinique                               Phenomenon (X Records)

48.     Jagged Edge            Walked Outta Heaven (Columbia)

49.     Musiq                                       Forthenight (Def Soul)

50.     Impromp2                                 Without You (Big 3)

Soul & Jazz Dance 100

1.        Hardsoul feat. Ron Carroll  Back Together (Soulfuric)

2.        Kenny Carvajal feat. John Pierce       My Words                (Phuture Soul)

3.        Afro-Mystik                                          Natural (Part 2) (OM)

4.        Frankie Feliciano                  Living Proof (Nitegrooves)

5.        Louie Vega pres. Anane                     Nos Vida (Vega )

6.        Jay Da’Mour                                         Gamble (Subliminal Soul)

7.        Owusu & Green                    Nevermore (Naked Music)

8.        Disciples Of Funk                                I Want It Right (Catch 22)

9.        Don Carlos feat. Michelle Weeks      Take Me Higher (Irma Unlimited)

10.     Miss Me feat Jiney & Mizzy              Surprise Me (Brique Rouge)

11.     D Tarik & Intense/A Flanagan          I Am (83 West)

12.     Barbara Mendez                   Got To Be In Love (Wave)

13.     Nikos feat. Tracy Carter      Bread Of Heaven (Under My Skin)

14.     Dennis Ferrer feat. Aaron Pearson    It’s A Beautiful Life (Sfere)

15.     Soul Central pres. Christopher Hall   My Vow (Kenlou)

16.     A.M. feat. Sky                      Choose To Believe (Mahogani)

17.     The Society feat. Ovasoul 7               How’s Life? (Nitegrooves)

18.     Handcrafted Sol feat. Kemdi              You’ve Got It (Coco Soul)

19.     Loosefingers                                         Deep Inside (Alleviated)

20.     Duron Tarik feat. Children Speak      Not Over (Space Kat)

21.     Lady Alma Proj. feat. Lady Alma       Dreams (King Street)

22.     Ja’Nel                                     My Groove (Jellybean)

23.     Blaze                                       We Are One (King Street)

24.     Dihann Moore                      True To Myself (Slaag)

25.     Rasmus Faber                       Ever After (Farplane)

26.     Jasper Street Co.                  Joy (God’s House)

27.     Soulstation                                            You (West End)

28.     Louis Vega feat. Raul Midon             Cerca De Mi (Vega)

29.     Barbara Walker                     Saved Me (Soulshine)

30.     Soul Providers feat. Robin Rush       Let The Sunshine In (Elan)

31.     Working Underneath                           Speak To Me ( Phuture Sole)

32.     Groove Junkies pres. Indeya              Oh Lord (More House)

33.     Reel People feat. Dyanna Fearon      Butterflies              (Papa)

34.     DJ Spinna feat. Shaun Escoffrey       Music In Me (Blaze Remix) (Wonderwax)

35.     Miguel Migs feat. Ledisi                     City People (Transport)

36.     Artofdisco feat. Carolyn Harding      Strength (Yellow)

37.     Harley & Muscle/Nicole Graham       Just Breath (Soulstar)

38.     J-Jay feat. Latrice Barnett   Summertime (Loveslap)

39.     One Track Minds feat. Lisa Millet     Late At Night (Soulfuric)

40.     Larry Heard                                           Tell Me What It Is (Track Mode)       

41.     Funk La Planet                      You Gave Me Love (Funk La Planet)

42.     Jay J & Chris Lum/Shawn Benson    Stronger (Beneditti Remix) (83 West)

43.     Soul Planet Jazz Ensemble/Xavior     Sugar, Baby, Darlin’ (Soulplanet)

44.     II Deep All-Stars/James Preston        Nature Boy (Nitegrooves)

45.     Jody Watley                                         Whenever                (Peace Bisquit)

46.     Soul Switch feat. Melissa Morgan    Don’t Say Love (West End)

47. DJ Pope                                    I’ll Be There For You/L.O.V.E (Poji)

48. Brent Laurence/Reggie Watts              Closer (Beneditti Remix) (Soulshine)

49. Glenn Underground                               Flu Bug (Shelter)

50. Next Evidence                         Morning Breeze (Dimitri Mix) (Capitol)

51.            Kerri Chandler                               Behold The Sun (King St)

52.     Kurt Lykes                                            Yes Lord (Under My Skin)

53.     Michelle Weeks                   Movin’ On (KIF)

54.     TriSpirit feat. Tonni Smith  Rejoice (Soundmen On Wax)

55.     Rufuss                                   Higher Together (Qalo Mota)

56.     Legacy feat. Mikkhiel                          Sexy Love Song (Needs)

57.     Glenn Underground                             Look Inside (Shelter)

58.     Jasper St. Co.                        Another Day (Basement Boys)

59.     Cassio Ware                         Happy Birthday Baby (Black House)

60.     Reel People feat. Angela Johnson    Can’t Stop (Papa)

61.            DJ Jorj feat. Gary Pinto Only You (Blaze Mix) (Distant)

62.     Michelle Weeks & Dawn Tallman     Joyful Noise (Equal)

63.     Brothers Of Peace/L Jordan               Praise Him 2 Nite (Soundmen On Wax)

64.     DJ Jorj                                    Do You Feel ? (Knee Deep)

65.     Umblu feat. Cassio Ware    Angel (JULM)

66.     Yass feat. Jay                        Give Me A Sign (SSOH)

67.     Loftis IV                                 You Are All I Need (Loftwerk)

68.     Incognito                                               On The Road (Krivit re-edit) (Ibadan)

69.     John Beltran                          Kissed By The Sun (Ubiquity)

70.     Jovonn                                   Don’t Waste Your Time (Track Mode)

71.            Markus Enochson/J Matheieu   Feeling Fine (MAW)

72.     Stacey Mallory/D.C. Washington     People Of The World (Phuture Soul)

73.     Lefunken feat. Tyrah                           Do Right (Eclectic)

74.     Ruben Mancias/Michelle Weeks      Peace (Devotion)

75.     DJ Oji feat. Sande                 Happiness (Poji)

76.     Latrice Barnett                      Without Love (Moulton Studios)

77.     Todd Gardner/Kimara Lovelace         Luv Me Rite (Distance)

78.     Carlos Sanchez/Lorenzo Tyler           Spirit Of The Dance (Slaag)

79.     Needs                                     Inner Glow             (Needs)

80.     Kerri Chandler                      Let Him In              (King St)

81.           Dino & Terry feat. Rayon             Peace Of Mind (Crash)

82.     Alison David                        Dreams Come True (Goya)

83.     East West Connection/Sandy Mill   We’re Movin’ On (Chilli Funk)

84.     Directions                                              Have You Felt This Way? (Diaspora)

85.     The Latin Project                  Lei Lo Lai (Electric Monkey)

86.     Nathan Haines                      A Mistereo (Chilli Funk)

87.     Ananda Project                    Kiss, Kiss, Kiss (King Street)

88.     Ambrosia                                               That’s How Much I Love You (Shelter)

89.     Lisa Millet                                             Closer (Look At You)

90.     Georg Levin                          In Your Car (Sonar Kollektiv)

91.            Jay-J                                                Fantasy (Large)

92.     Blvd. East feat. K.T. Brooks               It’s Your Life (Soulshine)

93.     Rufuss & Qalomota                             Gotta Make A Move On U (Qalomota)

94.     Moments Of Soul                 Celebrate Life (Wave)

95.     Sun Orchestra/Karl The Voice           Love Symphony (Straight Up)

96.     Wikka Man feat. Jacqui Williams      Just That Way (Knee Deep)

97.     Underground Dance/Joi Cardwell     Be Yourself (King St)

98.     Lisa Millet                                             It’s Alright (Purple)

99.     Roy Davis Jr feat. Ayro      I Know What You’re Thinking(Ubiquity)

100.  DJ MFR & D’Lanya                             Just Because (Go Go)

 

 

                                                                                         

 

 

 

 

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