MODERN SOUL and R'n'B REVIEWS

Sam Salter - The Little Black Book

Excellent album in the same style broadly as Jaheim and Transitions but not quite as 'hard ' on the vocals - this is more melodic. There is hardly a dud track, but neither is there a standout, just consistently good. Starts in an R'n'B groove and moves into soul as the album progress. Strangely for me I prefer the R'n'B sides such as Dime Place and Go Down. Could do without the ego stimulating opening monologues on several tracks - can't see that it adds anything. Money Can't Buy You is probably the most commercial - a bit Blackstreet - ish. Colour of Love is a slow soulful ballad, as is You don't have to be lonely. To be honest I gained as much pleasure with this than I did the much hyped Musiq Soulchild, a man who seems destined for stardom - let's hope Sam is too.

Laurna - Better Days - Sony

Despite coming out of 1997 I have only just picked this album up, and whilst I was familiar with Days of Youth in particular, I cannot see how I let this one slip by. This is a top album. The first track Happy is a stormer, and I am astonished to learn was cut just down the road from here in deepest soulful Wiltshire England (I jest, of course!) at, I think, Peter Gabriel's studio. Infatuation reminds me very much of Prince. Includes the excellent Days of Youth probably the most well known, Can't let go is excellent R'n'B, and Raphael Saadiq is so talented and his sparse Over and Over and Superstar suits the vocal extremely well. There is a duet with Omar this is a good mix of US and UK. A top top quality album.

Be Be featuring Brian McKnight & Joe - Coming back home/ Brand New Dance - Motown

Club mix, the obligatory instrumental (why?) and the radio edit. Excellent vocal offering with Brian and Joe on the Club Mix with pounding beat. This is definitely a grower - wasn't to keen on first few hearings but now I like a lot - persevere! Despite that I prefer Brand New Dance with just Be Be as the groove is more soulful and less dance, with a jazzy keyboard break.

Changing Faces - That Other Woman - Atlantic

There seems to be a multitude of mixes available on this but rightly or wrongly I've plumped for the Joe mix and the extended album version. The album version is nice slow modern R'n'B and the song seems to have been around for ages now. The Joe mix doesn't actually add to much to it.

Koffee Brown - After Party - Arista

Love this - one of the records of the tail end of last year beginning of this - going big time on the Soul and R'n'B circuits. Also appearing on many compilation albums. Nice mellow groove and cool vocal. Modern R'n'B at its best, but why don't the majors co-operate with small business! Sorry this is nothing to do with this record but the small labels are, generally, full of enthusiasm and grateful for any help that can be give - but the majors do not have any courtesy at all!

Pound Boys featuring Rashaan Houston - Shine -Records of Interest (Germany)

Lenny Fontana mix and not Rashaan Patterson as billed in the store I picked this up from! More Soulful garage - no debates here about it's relevance - this is soul in my book. The mix just makes it more accessible to the Dance Culture. This coupling has a good track record for this kind of thing and whilst this is not earth shattering it is consistent and very good. I think I actually prefer the Pound Boys Original Mix.

Cooly's Hot Box - We don't have to be alone - Groovin

From the consistently good Cooly's this with Angela Johnson on lead and the House mix with a jazzy tinge is really fine. Fairly commercial actually.

Brian McKnight - Back at one - Motown - Dance Remixes

Sorry but whilst I like Brian Mcknight I can't seem to get my head around any of the remixes on offer here.

Pound Boys featuring Rashaan Houston - The Right Way - Slip n Slide

Another from a bit back by the excellent Pound Boys and Rashaan. Another good vocal performance.

Transitions - Back in Da Days

New CD of Modern R'n'B, much in the style of Jaheim. Some excellent cuts and some good vocals. Starts of in an Urban R'n'B style including the lyrics. We then go old skool for the title track. Move on to the slow 'Straight F**king' with vocals very reminiscent of Bobby Womack which despite the risqué lyrics is very good indeed. Then onto humorous and funky with 'Fat Ass Pam'. Female duet with 'I'm not crazy' ,'A Rainy Night (in Harlem) is a magnificent Willie Mitchell -esque Al Green sounding piece. Fine vocal album all round which will appeal to Soul and Urban folk alike.