modernmusingsjul07

Modern Musings………grooves from the Modern Side with Mark Randle

July 2007

(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)

Demetrius Price No Holdin’ Back (EU Raw Fusion 12”)

I don’t know too much about either artist or label, other than it being released out of Sweden, but I can tell you that this has an insatiable groove which should make it massive. Now, I don’t get out as much as I once used to, but I’m not aware of anyone but me giving this any kind of needle time! Grab a listen if you can, and tell me I’m wrong!! Tune.

Metropolitan Jazz Affair Find A Way (EU INFRACom 12”)

Some of the European jazz released on labels such as Schema out of Italy, is finding favour both in UK soul clubs and with collectors of contemporary grooves. One of the best of the bunch at present is this twelve inch from the Metropolitan Jazz Affair, in this instance released in Germany on Infracom Records. A cool jazz-dancer for the summer months, with a kind of supper-club type vocal in that Jon Lucien mould. If you like the jazzier material, then this is a must.

Randolph Believer (EU Still Music 12”)

Staying with the twelves, next up we have Paul Randolph and the excellent “Believer”, in both original and Jazzanova remix forms. Check out the original mix, which is my favourite, for a super lilting soul song with great vocals and super melody. Not one for the dance floor, but a great record for early doors or radio. This is just achingly soulful, I really couldn’t believe my ears when I first heard this beauty. Do not miss this superb piece of music just because you can’t dance to it…….please!!

Raw Artistic Soul In Their Eyes (EU Gogo Music CD “You Got Rhythm Too”)

The new CD from Raw Artistic Soul released in Germany, contains its fair share of cuts previously available on twelve inch vinyl. What you really need it for however, is this slice of Benson-esque uptempo summer soul perfection featuring the vocals of John Gibbons. Think of Benson’s “When Love Comes Calling” and you won’t be far off the mark. A super, classy arrangement with killer vocals, lots of breaks and runs to keep your interest over the duration of the cut. Again, as with the Demetrius Price, this doesn’t appear to have taken off quite how I imagined it might, and I have to pose one strange question: are records like this TOO GOOD? I think you will know what I mean by that!

Various Confection/Carlton J. Smith/Nu Vintage Soul (UK Soulchoonz 12”/7”/CD)

Di Lee and friends at Soulchoonz records have been busy of late, and the fruits of their labour are well worthy of your attention. First up is Confection with “Fantasisin” in original and extended mix formats on nice 12” vinyl. From the opening bars I was in SOS Band territory, with that classic low slung dirty 80’s bass groove. It comes as no surprise to hear that this garnered mucho attention on first airing at Prestwich. “I Choose You” takes the tempo up, further 80’s influenced, this time with an Evelyn King/Kashif kind of vibe. Both nice cuts, but “Fantasisin” just shades it for me. Next we have Carlton J. Smith with “I’d Better”, again clearly influenced by days gone by, but this time in more of a classic Al Green style. This will definitely interest the traditionalists amongst you, being on 7” vinyl too. I just love the use of brass on the hook, which adds a real touch of class. The B-side, “Love” further demonstrates Carlton’s accomplished vocal talent on a nice mid-pacer. Finally, the latest CD release from the label, “Nu Vintage Soul”, is a compilation of emerging artists and is of a more contemporary nature. Key cuts for me here are the brace a piece from Kayte Burgess and Michelle Tavares, the latter with a credible take on the classic “I Need Your Lovin’” and the great mid-paced dancer from Kimia Collins “Your Only”. But it’s all good tackle, so go check them out for yourself at www.soulchoonz.com.

Peven Everett Feelin You In And Out (Shelter Mix) (US Symple Soul 12”)

Along with cats like Amp Fiddler and Paul Randolph, Peven Everett has established himself as a bit of an underground cult hero over recent years. His vocal style is quirky, never more so than on this fine release for Symple Soul records in the US. As house records go, this is just so soulful that even the most ardent and vocal of dissenters of this musical genre will struggle to sling mud at this gem. Far from “banging”, this is a neatly constructed example of the more than acceptable face of soulful dance music. Don’t dismiss records this good out of hand and come crying to me in a few years when you hear it on a mates CD compilation!!

Best of the rest to look out for……….the previously unreleased Jerline & Friends CD “Best Of Friends” on Andy Davies new Streetsoul label, and the new Foster Babies OST CD for the ace LJ Reynolds “So Good”. Out of Japan comes two great sets from Jiva (“Day Into Night”) and Jafrosax (“Jafrosax 4”), the latter having the killer Incognito styled “Grow” therein. Staying with the JAP releases, the “Freedom House Mode Collection” CD contains one of our faves Angela Johnson, with Brisa on “Get Over You”. Also worth checking is the new Adrianna Evans set for Expansion “El Camino”, which finds the lady back at her best. On the vinyl front, don’t miss Martino & Sacha (UK Bingo Soul), Woody Bianchi (US Look At You), Slowly feat. Alison Crockett (JAP Flower), Studio Apartment “Found Him” (JAP New World) and the Catalan FC & Sven Love “Departure EP” out of Europe on KIF. Finally, and hot off the press, the new Blaze remix of Dreamgirls “Family” (Blaze Imprints), which is quite simply superb.

Mark Randle’s Starpoint Radio playlist for April 2007:

Vesta (Williams) – Free (US Shanachie CD)

Deniece Williams feat. Phillip Bailey – Love’s Holiday (US Shanachie CD)

Shakatak – Two Hearts (JAP Victor CD)

Jafrosax – GROW (JAP Konami CD)

Donald McCollum – No Matter What I’ll Do (UK Expansion CD)

Norman Brown feat. Brian McKnight – Stay With Me (US Peak CD)

Randolph – Believer (EU Still Music 12”)

Anthony Hamilton – Fallin’ In Love Again (US Merovingian Music CD)

7 Sons Of Soul – Heaven (US Verity/Zomba CD)

Elisabeth Withers – Somebody (US Blue Note CD)

Full Flava feat. Beverlei Brown – I Specialise In Love (UK Dome CD)

Power – Started All Over Again (US Powerized CD)

Jerline and Friends – Joy Trip (Part 1) (UK Streetsoul CD)

Catalan FC & Sven Love feat. Paris Gilbert – Real Love (EU KIF 12”)

Martino feat. Sacha – Piece Of Heaven (Original Mix) (UK Bingo Soul 12”)

Slowly feat. Alison Crockett – Find Illusion (JAP Flower CD)

Raw Artistic Soul feat. John Gibbons – In Their Eyes (EU GoGo Music CD)

Marcus Enochson feat. Jocelyn Mathieu – Endless Dance (Karizma Remix Vox) (EU Sonar Kollektiv 12”)

Native – Prussian Blue (Nicola Conte Jazz Dance Rework) (EU INFRACom! 12”)

Metropolitan Jazz Affair – Find A Way (EU INFRACom! 12”)

Norwood feat. Jennifer Holiday – Easier Said Than Done (US Just Norwood Music CD)

Porsche Smith – Crazy (US Urbanese Music CD)

Ledisi – Devotion (US Stax/Concord CD)

Michael Rainey – Wrapped Too Tight (If He Ain’t) (US Rainey Records CD)

SIMPLY SOUL MAIL ORDER HOT TEN SALES

(W/C 4/6/07)

1. Nu Vintage - Various Artists (UK Soulchoonz CD)

2. Street Soul 3 - Various Artists (UK Urban Essentials CD)

3. Leroy Burgess - Throwback Harlem 79-83 (UK Soul Brother CD)

4. Darlene McCoy - Darlene McCoy (US EMI Gospel CD)

5. Foster Babies OST - Various Artists (US Born Again CD)

6. Spur Of The Moment - Urban Renewal (US SOTM CD)

7. Maysa - Feel The Fire (US Shanachie CD)

8. Dreamgirls - Family (Blaze Remix) (US Blaze Imprints 12")

9. Ebony Alleyne - Never Look Back (UK Expansion CD)

10. Roi Anthony - True Soul Experience (US Mo Hitz CD)

Chart compiled by Fish…the above and much more available on 0116 237 5461 or at www.firstexperiencerecords.com.

Cheers! Mark (June 2007)

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