modernmusingsapr

Modern Musings Grooves from the Modern Side with Mark Randle June 2004

Previous reviews here : - Summer 2003 modernmusings October 2003 modernmusingsoctJanuary 2004 modernmusingsjan April 2004 modernmusingapr

(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)

7 Sons Of Soul - Need You/Run On/Hold On/Hes So Real/What Is This? (US Verity CD 7 Sons of Soul)

I tell you what folks, it doesn't get much better than this -oh no sir. The 7 sons are Cliff Jones, David Lindsey, Deonte Gray, Sam Kendrick, Nathaniel Fields and Paul Edwards and what they deliver here is inspirational soul perfection. Whilst a little heavy on the message, Need You is a killer dancer in that (I know, I always use this phrase) Prestwich vibe - huge. Great background vocals and ad-libbing behind the main leads really work well over a solid mid-tempo beat, with some nifty piano work to boot. Then check the lazy, loping Run On for a great radio moment, again no good for the confirmed heathens amongst you, but vocals and production to die for. New guy on the block Raheem DeVaughn (what's happening with his solo album for Jive?) joins the boys on the excellent down-tempo He's So Real, with the other tracks of real note for me being Hold On, another superbly sung ballad with that wonderful piano work again and What Is This? featuring guests Fred Hammond and Pamkenyon Donald. All told then, not chock full of dancers, and a little heavy on the message, but you really can't afford to miss music of this quality. Simply superb.

Harley & Muscle feat. Billy Preston - You Are So Beautiful (EU Little Angel 12 EP Respected Everywhere)

If this belting little soulful house choon doesnt appeal to sane soul fans everywhere Ill eat my beat counter! Legendary keys man Preston teams up with Italys finest exponents of the good groove Harley & Muscle to bring us a soulful gem from the very top drawer. Here, its not Billys dexterity over the ivorys thats on display, but his vocal ability. That said the Rhodes chords in this are fabulous. His almost strained, occasionally echoed vocal delivery fits the groove really well, with a warm and passionate feel, and some great timing to the back-beat. When those keys come in on the intro it just melts you and then those vocals&.well, its velvet. Some lovely noodly guitar work towards the end too. This is a record that doesnt get too excited considering its genre, and when you combine all these qualities you reach soulful heaven, which is why I would expect this to have wide appeal.

Jazz Crusaders feat. Jean Carne Life In The City (Really Turns Me On) (US True Life Jazz CD Soul Axess)

Wayne Hendersons Jazz Crusaders boast assistance from Wilton Felder on this album, which is interesting in itself as I thought they had well and truly fell out. I seem to recall it was to do with the use of the name Crusaders as these guys along with Stix Hooper and Joe Sample were the four that formed the original Crusaders. Anyway, they have obviously settled their differences, and whilst this is ostensibly a jazz album, track 7 is definitely worthy of mention here. Featuring the vocals of some no-hoper named Jean Carne, Life In The City is a great dancer, which caused a stir with the Nuneaton Soul massive (!) at the Easter Bass Museum gig. Quite right too. Whilst its fair to say that the production quality of the album isnt great, the quality of this cut still shines through, with its generous helping of real instruments and Jeans oh so accomplished vocal phrasing. Essential.

Copyright feat. Imaani Running Away (US Copyright 12)

Copyright hit us with the first release on their own imprint, and a goody it is too. This has that typical Soulfuric feel with those relaxed synthesised effects, and gets underway with some real nice percussion followed by a pumping bass guitar. Imaanis vocals here wont crack any mirrors, but its accomplished and sits nicely in the mix, as does some subtle electric guitar in the backing&&..dont be put off by this as its tastefully done. Our chanteuse retorts You keep running away&&so why dont you stay&&theres no time to play&&&lets not waste a day&&. I really like this and I can see it really catching the imagination on the dance floors with a significant amount of crossover appeal. 21^st Century Soul anyone?

Rahsaan Patterson All cuts (UK Dome CD After Hours)

Modern day soul hero Rahsaan Patterson returns with his third album after the success of his eponymous debut and Love In Stereo sets for MCA/Universal. Amazingly though, this album comes through UK independent Dome Records, and whilst this should be seen as a bit of a coup for them, it does beg the question as to why someone with the talent of Patterson cant command a more prestigious deal. Baffling really, and a sad reflection of the music industry. Still, more power to the elbow of excellent set-ups such as Dome. Anyway, what of the music? Well, you get to officially own otherwise virtual cuts such as the excellent dancer Straighten It Out which is set to see heavy rotation at all the quality venues, as well as all those soundtrack/compilation cuts which are grouped together on one album here. Indeed, You Make Life So Good, which previously appeared on the Brown Sugar soundtrack, is one of my favourite Patterson moments&&&a joyous record. Its all good tackle, and a must for any serious collection or even those with a passing interest in contemporary soul music.

R Kelly Happy People (US Jive Promo 12)

Mr Kelly returns with another one for all the steppers out there having obviously cottoned on to the fact that its the kind of groove that causes a stir in deepest Lancashire!! Not much to say about this, being a carbon copy of Step&., other than its the title cut from a forthcoming album, apparently due May 4 (?), and will be absolutely massive&&&&.I just hope he doesnt over do it by treating us to a Step& Pt 3!! This cut wont tax the old grey matter in the same way as something from Marvin or Donny might, but it does exactly what it says on the tin&&&&&.good time soul music making people happy and encouraging them to dance, which is just fine. Most definitely coming to a dance floor near you!

Soul Providers feat. Robin Rush No Pressure (UK Elan Rouge 12)

Ive been dying to get my hands on this record having heard it first via Paul Phillips superb Solar Radio Soulful Garage show (Saturdays 10pm-12am, Sky digital Ch. 879 or www.solarradio.com). Ive dug all of the recent Robin Rush outings on US Elan records, and now we have a release on what I presume to be the European arm of the Elan set-up, Elan Rouge. This builds nicely through percussion, bass, then the keys and vocals enter the fray with the great piano stabs driving it along and Robin exclaiming No pressure&&..love will lead us to a higher place&... Its clear from the lyrics that she just wants some basic things from her man to make life better, but theres no pressure. Theres a nice break with good vibes work and that hook will be haunting you for days. Its the original mix you need to go for on this one. Great stuff!

Frankie Knuckles Whats Going On? (US Definity CD A New Reality)

Chicago House don Frankie Knuckles has attracted interest from the UK soul scene in the past, most notably for the Shelton Becton vocalled Its Hard Sometimes, a now collectible 12 on US Virgin. He returns with a fairly straight up, and in all honesty, fairly ordinary house album for Definity records, but hes done it again. Wait until the soul cognoscente get to hear this slab of prime US soul, set just below mid-tempo. Whats Going On is performed by Nikki Richards and features none other than Will Downing on backgrounds. This is a bass heavy plodder just right for those smoky late night soul clubs. Not much of a lyric here it has to be said, but an incessant groove that just gets in your head and goes around all day. Of the rest, if you can handle soul of the up-tempo variety you might go for the cuts Journey and Matter Of Time, which for me are the picks, whilst Keep On Movin is an acceptable semi-vocal cut.

Carmen Rogers Dream/The Way(I Want To Touch You) (UK Expansion CD Free)

Expansion didnt waste much time in licensing this rather fine indie offering from new name Carmen Rogers, which originally appeared out of the States on AB records, which also recently released the much talked about Geno Young Ghetto Symphony album. Indeed, Mr Young guests on this album and co-wrote a couple of the tooons, most notably one of my picks here, Dream. My ultimate pick of the bunch at present is Just Believe, a mid-paced stepper and typical of the kind of thing youll here early doors at the Bass Museum. The Way(I Want To Touch You) is a cover of an old Captain and Tenille number and all told this is a fine and classy debut album chock full of pretty decent material. Youll need this if you like Phyllis Hyman et al.

Randles Bass Museum certs July 2004:

Rahsaan Patterson Straighten It Out (Dome CD)

Jazz Crusaders/Jean Carne Life In The City (True Life Jazz CD)

Kenny Bobien You Belong To Me (Original mix) (CD-R)

Evelyn Champagne King When Your Heart Says Yes (Manhatten LP oldie)

Joseph Diamond You Shouldnt Do/Speak To Me (CD-R)

Chez Damier/Leroy Burgess Your Love (Track Mode 12)

Sweet Thunder To Give Love (WMOT LP oldie)

Sunburst Band Every Day (Z Records LP)

Kaskade _ Safe (Salted 12)

Rufuss This Could Be Love (QM 12)

Steal Vybe After Hours (Steal Vybe Music 12 EP)

Jay Color My Heart (JAP R-Soul CD!!)

Temptations Love To The Music (Motown CD)

Perri Maybe Tomorrow (Zebra LP oldie)

Patti Labelle New Day (Def Soul Classics Promo 12)

Former Motown stalwart Jheryl Busby has set up Def Soul Classics, a subsidiary of Def Soul, in an attempt to revitalise the careers of people such as Patti. The album from whence this little ditty comes, Timeless Journey, has not found its way into my sweaty palms yet, but if this fine mid-paced dancer is anything to go by, things are heading in the right direction. Vocally shes as superb as ever on this floor pleaser on which she proclaims that she is going to straighten her life out on her own&..its a new day. Nice BVs as well, but theyd have to be quality to sit nicely with the power of Pattis delivery.

OK&&.look out for other new bits in the shape of Working Underneath feat. Shay Bryant Someone You Know on US Space Kat, for the jazzers theres the incredible Louie Vega Elements Of Life CD/quadruple LP!!&&&also interesting new material from UK indies Dome and Expansion who have Brenda Russell and Byron Woods albums recently released respectively. And, keep em peeled for a copy of the Rufuss EP Master & Apprentice (what a title eh?) on import from Europe on Qola Mota records, for the track This Could Be Love&&&&&an absolute killer!!

Cheers,

Mark (June 2004) (Reviews compiled May 2004)

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