NICOLAS BEARDE
CROSSING THE LINE
Expansion, 1998
1) Can We Pretend 2) Lady Love 3) Crossing the
Line 4) Say You Love Me 5) Love of My Life 6) Color Blind 7)
Miracle Lover 8) Never Let Me Go 9) (And) It All Goes 'Round and
'Round
Expansion have seriously excelled themselves this time -
no doubt about it. Apart from being an accomplished actor, Nicolas
Bearde is a darn fine writer and singer. With a very strong
distinctive voice, superb songs and real musicians, we are faced
with classic sophistsoul territory from the word go.
The jazzy and soulful Can We Pretend is a classic in
itself as is his interpretation of Jon Lucien's 1973
classic Lady Love, which is very close to the original and
further proves the massive vocal prowess of the man. The title
cut is a real must, too, and is a delightfully catchy number -
such an intelligent and well considered song coming towards us in
the clothing of a classy early 1980s soul track - one the
collectors would die for!
For these ears, though, the drop dead KILLER is Color Blind,
which will blow you away. Imagine the classiest track from the
latter part of 1986 - let's say Hush Productions or the Capitol
label - but with the vocal qualities and delivery akin to Carl
Anderson and delivered with sheer soulfulness and
effortlessness then you may get an inkling of how good this is.
But you must hear it to actually appreciate it - there's no good
simply reading what I've written. This is the sort of track to
kill for at all costs and I am quite content to label it as my
TRACK OF 1998 so far. If the vocals don't blow you away, then
wait for the sax to do the job instead!
The treats continue in the same moulding with Miracle Lover.
(And) It All Goes Round and Round can be likened to the
top quality classy jazz cut that Will Downing would
deliver - and that we would expect Ronnie Foster to
produce. No one can afford to miss this CD. Make it a priority
and get it now.
The review by Barry Towler exclusively for RECORD CORNER, which is one of the leading soul shops in the world. The review is not featured in our printed issue.
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