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Tasha's World - Dome CD43
WELCOME TO TASHA’S WORLD
‘A neo-soul fan’s dream, the Jill-meets-Erykah-ish vocals flowing sweetly over a stunning set of tracks she cut in London’ - Echoes
Tasha’s World is the intriguing name of a talented new neo-soul artist from Rotterdam who has taken the urban scene by storm in Japan, and has already performed more than 50 live dates with her band in her native Holland.
Her big break came when she was invited to London by Erykah Badu's manager. Soon after that, she performed at the Jill Scott official after party at the Paradiso in Amsterdam last year and Jill herself stood and applauded, amazed that Tasha was unsigned. She went on to make TV appearances on MTV Europe’s Drum Rhythm Special and MTV’s Lowlands Special. In January 2003 she made her UK debut with her 10-piece band to a sell-out crowd at London’s Jazz Café.
Echoes magazine voted the Tasha’s World album as one of its Top 25 albums of 2002 and also chose “Stalker” – one of the album highlights – as one of its Top 5 Tracks of the Year. The album featured as a Japanese import in the Blues & Soul Hip List.
The album – entirely written or co-written by Natascha Slagtand, the focal point of Tasha’s World - was recorded in London and includes two tracks produced by Full Crew’s Michael Daley, one of which, “So..Ho” has already been played heavily on London’s Choice FM. Another cut, “Nothing Really Matters”, made waves in the UK and Europe in late 2002 when it was featured as the lead cut on an Urbanstar 12inch vinyl.
“I was always telling people I would make it, but Holland is very small as far as the music business is concerned,” says Tasha. “They wanted me to sound like someone else, but when I came to London to write and record I met music people who would let me be myself.”
Now in her mid-twenties, Natascha was born into a musical family, with a father who played bass guitar. She decided to pursue music full-time when she turned 20. In 2001 she toured Holland and Germany supporting Ruff Endz, and she started touring with her own band as Tasha’s World early in 2002. Since then she has appeared regularly on Dutch television.
Live dates further afield in the UK, Scandinavia and France are planned in the wake of the album release, as well as a headline date at Amsterdam’s Paradiso and an appearance at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague.
See Tasha's World online at www.tashasworld.com
Review
Whilst comparison with Jill Scott and Erykah Badu and the whole neo soul movement will abound this album is still fresh, consistent and different. From the tail end of last year getting plays on import and then gotten hold of by our friends at Dome for a UK release. There is an interview with Tasha elsewhere on the site.
The opening track has a great groove, classical piano intro into an unobtrusive caribbean beat and strong vocals. Whilst in many ways this is a scene setter it remains one of my favourites. So.......Ho does take us more into Badu territory, kind of semi rap and storyline lyrics. Breakfast London Style continues the European lyrics with a mellower vocal.
She's a Pimp is a terrific track, take yourself back to Curtis Mayfield's Chicago Blaxploitation style and street imagery, an this is where you land. Superb vocals in a Curtis stylee, haunting, mellow, and a track where you can see the images and feel the pain. Black Panther, again a bit in the old skool, a love song, a political song, memories, or love, probably all of these things.
By this time it is clear that this is not just another copycat neo album, if there was any doubt at all and Nothing really matters is a bouncy dancefloor R'n'B outing. Continuing to be different as we go through the album, some more traditional soul ballads Part of my life, You are the Star and All that's on my mind; the latter being particular nice.
The beats get sparser, and the lyrics more chilling on the acclaimed track Stalker. A track where I can appreciate the structure and effect but actually is not particularly one I care for. All of me is another cut more neo.
On Down and around we get funky, much different feel to this. Very refreshing to hear this kind of track with props to the old skool. And finally a luscious ballad, pretty much piano and Tasha only, a powerful dreamy love ballad.
Taste your love
A fine fine album, well produced, well structured, well written and well delivered, and destined to be one of the best of the year for sure.
tracks
1. Tasha's World
2. So....Ho
3. Breakfast London Style
4. She's a Pimp
5 Black Panther.
6. Nothing really matters
7. Part of my life
8. All that's on my mind
9. Stalker
10. You R the Star
11. All of me
12. Down and around
13. Taste your love