Modern
Musings………grooves from the Modern Side with Mark Randle
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September 2006
(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)
Kenny
Thomas Sunshine
Girl/Him/Let It Rain (UK
Curb CD “Crazy World”)
After
what seems like years of mystery and dodgy CD-R’s, we finally get the finished
full “Crazy World” album from Kenny Thomas. Kenny has earned much support from the UK Northern and
Modern soul scenes, and that is something he is very grateful for. Consequently, this should be a
consistent seller for the man via all the UK specialist outlets. Whether it will cross-over to be a big
seller in the way that Kenny has been used to in days gone by is anyone’s
guess. It’s certainly been crafted
with that in mind as tracks like “Don’t Come Around” and “Don’t Know Why”
demonstrate, being well sung and “accessible” material. Anyway, as far as we’re concerned, “Let
It Rain” makes it to the CD, as does “Him”. Of the new tracks “Sunshine Girl” is my pick, and should see
plenty of dance floor action.
“Foolin’ Around” is a close second, and again has that cross-over
appeal. I can’t help but feel that
the omission of “Turn It Up”, and the original version of “Crazy World” (a 2006
remix is included) are a bit of a mistake, particularly as the latter has never
yet appeared on CD format. You
need it for those big tracks, both new and old.
Various Most
cuts (UK
Phuture Lounge CD “Rainbow Soul Vol. 1)
As
much as it might pain some of the purists amongst you, Rainbow Soul Volume 1 is
a great new compilation of artists out of Manchester. Of course, it’s not the first time we’ve been treated to the
delights of Northern England’s big city………..who remembers the excellent Vivo
compilation from the 90’s, containing gems from Gina Foster and Dawn Zee? Anyway, to this super disc, released on
Phuture Lounge recordings. This is
as essential a purchase as anything else mentioned here. It’s hard to single out cuts for
special attention, but Oezlem’s “Eyes Burn” and the great Jenna G “Put It On
Me” take some beating, being great for the dance floor, particularly the
latter. There are a couple of cuts
from Fyza, whom we’ve heard from before.
On the mellow tip, the awesome jazzy floater “Intergalactic Love Affair”
from Mr J befits its title. Oezlem
delivers another classy cut with the walking bassline of “New Era”. Sure there are a few cuts from the
left-field, such as Mr J’s “Cosmic”, but its all class stuff! Believe me you need this CD like air!!
Amp
Fiddler Faith/Right
Where You Are/Find My Way/Heaven (UK
Genuine CD “Afro Strut”)
Joseph
“Amp” Fiddler may be a new name to some, but if you are of a 70’s soul
persuasion you will be interested to know that this guy was once part of
Detroit outfit Enchantment. He has
established himself as a bit of a cult hero on this side of the pond, and his previous
album “Waltz Of The Ghetto Fly” brought him much critical acclaim. After two recent highly collectable 10”
singles, he shows fine form on this new set “Afro Strut”, entirely written, or
at least co-written by the man himself.
“Faith” is one of the cuts featured on one of those 10”’ers, and gets
the set off in fine, raw and organic style. From the same 10” comes “Right Where You Are”, a great
dancer reminiscent in feel to Phillip Ramirez “Spend My Life Without You”. A good recommendation in itself! The quirky, guitar picked “Find My Way”
is currently a firm favourite with me.
There’s a slightly off-the-wall feel to this, really suiting Amp’s vocal
delivery. Similar in feel is “You
Could Be Mine”, before we are treated to “Heaven”, a super smooth brass and
harp laced mid-tempo delight with input from Bluey of Incognito and Stephanie
McKay on joint lead. A real class
joint, as cats like Amp might say!!
The remainder of the tracks cover everything from funk (“Seven
Mile”/”Funky Monday”) and reggae/ragga (“I Need You”) through to 70’s
blaxploitation film score (“Hustle”).
This album gets better the more I listen to it, and is an essential
purchase. Don’t miss this!!
Alexander
O’Neal Lord (UK
BKO 12”)
Having
been one of the biggest dance cuts this year since it’s debut at the Prestatyn
weekender back in March, this cracking new single from 80’s hero Alexander
O’Neal finally makes the transition from MP3 to delicious vinyl!, Released in the UK on BKO records, it’s
the Bah Samba mix that you need to head for here. It’s true to say that the vocal has a bit of a
time-stretched, or maybe vocodered feel to it, but it just stays on the right
side of acceptable for me. Some of
the cuts with time stretched vocals are nothing short of appalling, and this
can quite often be the case on house remixes of cuts which started life as soul
and R&B tunes. There are some
remixers and labels in whom we can usually trust, and those best avoided, but I
digress. Anyway, this has that
relentless, driving feel to it and an inspirational lyric that makes it an
instant hit with the dancers……………..if you’re a DJ you’ll want to trim it down
though! I would sum up by saying
it’s a love or hate tune.
Luther
Vandross Shine (US
J Records 12”)
Staying
with 80’s soul men, but away from the house tip, we move over to a new 12” from
Luther Vandross called “Shine”.
Having been around in limited quantities on a J Records promo 12”, this
is now available to all. Actually
one
of two new cuts included on a
“Best Of” set now in the shops, this is a great dancer set to burn in the
coming weeks, and I think it will still be doing the business right up to the
festive season. Based around Chic’s
“My Forbidden Lover”, this trips along perfectly for the UK’s dance floors,
with that now sorely missed unmistakeable vocal riding the groove. Gone but definitely not
forgotten…………………RIP big fella.
Fuzion
feat. Wallace Gary U
(U Got Me) (US Fuzion 12”)
Do we
review something from the Fuzion camp every time?? Well, quite probably but I make no apology for doing so
whilst they keep delivering gems like this. You know what to expect tempo wise, but the urgent and
accomplished vocal delivery works to turn this into a relentless powering
monster of a cut. Wallace Gary is
a new name to me, who actually sounds like he’s got his name the wrong way
around, but we’ll spare him that if he can deliver more of this quality. Quite superb!
Vanessa
Haynes I
Wonder/Our Love Will Last/Steppin’ Out/Embrace (UK
Change Of Weather CD “Stay With Me”)
As you
will see elsewhere in these pages, Vanessa Haynes will be our special guest
down at Without Boundaries in September.
One listen to this will tell you why we’re thrilled at the
prospect! Some real quality on
offer here, and something of note is the live feel to the tracks, so the
traditionalists amongst you should check this out. As far as dance floor material goes, “Our Love Will
Last” and the funky “Steppin’ Out” are the choices, the latter with some great
brass stabs. However, I feel that
progress for this cut on the UK modern soul scene will be hindered by the
excess of electric guitar. Other
cuts of particular note are the two-step “Embrace” or radio friendly “I
Wonder”, the latter being reminiscent of the great India.Arie. A new UK talent worthy of your investigation.
Lot’s
of 12”’s and album cuts to mention, so in an effort to squeeze more in ahead of
our now regular Simply Soul sales chart, we’ll mention them in brief. The Reel People supply a killer remix
on Maysa’s “Runnin” cut, the original lifted from the “Vibe Room” set for
Expansion earlier this year. A
strutting, funky feel for the dance floor is the result. The Little Big Band “Pressure” on UK One
51 records is a big vocal house cut with a real catchy hook. Ron Carroll returns with “My
Life”. In my humble opinion this
is as good as “Back Together”, but doesn’t seem to have taken off in the same
way. Bobby & Steve via their
Zoo Groove Stereo label bring us their own “In My Heart” feat. Pete Simpson,
over two mixes on the 12”. Don’t
miss the killer Wagon Cookin’ “The Week-The Weekend” new on Love Monk out of
Spain. Funky man! And finally, hot off the press are
Kenny Carvajal feat. Reggie Hall “Life Is” on US Habitat and A.G. Thomas “The
1,2” in it’s Reelsoul mix form for ABB Soul. Both superb! On
the soulful R&B tip, Urban Mystic brings us the Divine Mill remix of “I
Refuse” new for US SoBe.
To the CD’s, and MG’s album
“Still” is essential for the great mid-paced title track. The Javen album “Believer” contains the
brilliant dancer “Not Gonna Worry”, featuring Dietrick Haddon. Just wait til you hear this! Staying with the indie’s, and the CD
“Give Me A Song” from Lady A contains the awesome “So Glad”. Taking the tempo down, Gina Darby
brings us “Yes” from the album “One More Day”. This is a fantastic slice of sophisto-soul. The latest set from the Brand New
Heavies contains a couple of great dancers, with my favourite being “Let’s Do
It Again”. The new album from She
“She Soul” has its moments, and I just love the cool dancer “Slippin’ (Back To
Your Love)”. Vickie
Winans new set “Woman To Woman – Songs Of Life” contains no less than four good
dancers, so the DJ’s are spoilt for choice on this one. And finishing on the “real soul” tip,
the traditionalists amongst you should check out William Bell’s “New Lease On
Life” album for the great “Treat Her Right (Like A Lady)”. Also O.B. Buchana’s “I Owe Everybody”
from the “I’m Gonna Sleep” set new for Ecko, and new in is the latest from Omar
Cunningham, “Worth The Wait”, and a quite appropriate title too. Not much hint of that crass production
so often blighting southern soul sets, this set is completely essential for all
true soul lovers. Finally,
compiled by David Nathan from the Atlantic vaults we have “Atlantic Unearthed
Soul Brothers”, including a superb previously unreleased Donny Hathaway cut
“What A Woman Really Means”.
SIMPLY
SOUL MAIL ORDER HOT TEN SALES
(W/C 28/08/2006)
1. Vickie Winans - Woman To Woman (US Verity CD)
2. Luther Vandross - Shine (US J Records 12”)
3. Omar Cunningham - Worth The Wait (US End Zone CD)
4. Rainbow Soul Vol 1 - Various Artists (UK Phuture
Lounge CD)
5. Amp Fiddler - Afro Strut (UK Genuine CD)
6. AG Thomas - The 1,2 (Reelsoul Remix) (US ABB Soul
12”)
7. Vanessa Haynes - Stay With Me (UK Change Of
Weather CD)
8. Fuzion - U (U Got Me) - (US Fuzion 12”)
9. Gina Darby - One More Day (US GAD CD)
10. Bah Samba - Morris (Restless Soul Remix) (UK BKO
12”)
Chart
compiled by Fish…the above and much more available on 0116 237 5461/www.firstexperiencerecords.com.
Finally, don’t forget you can
now hear me on Starpoint Radio for my monthly guest show. There’s no fixed schedule to these at
present, so keep your eyes peeled at www.starpointradio.com
for details. Starpoint broadcasts
around the world via the internet.
Until next time then!
Cheers…………….Mark (Sept 2006)
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