Soul Express CD Review

Halleluljah! More quality adult uptempo material out of Chicago and New York. I really cannot heap enough praise onto this album. All the grooves are aimed at the dancefloor, and each track has more than a spring in its step, and a smile on its face. This really and truly is a no-risk purchase. The groove on the CD is just spot-on for me. I love happy, uptempo music that makes you feel really good inside. The 80s was crammed with such material, but we all know what happened after that!!! Anyway, Paul Simpson, M. Dalto, C. Chang and K. Pecou must accept my hearty thanks for this superb album of steppin' tunes.

Is this Steppin' phenomenon a credible rival to the Country Line Dance craze? Who knows, but I certainly lap up this sort of stuff. These guys are also known as Da Producers, and you may already be familiar with their fantastic reworking of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". That song was the only decent and credible workout on that dreadful concept album, and if you loved that song you will love this CD.

The CLASSIC Paul Simpson garage groovethat kicks off the album is so today, but yet also firmly rooted in his late 80s work. This is definitely a good thing, and his credentials certainly stand up to scrutiny. "Dance The Night Away" has been big on the UK quality radio scene, and on Starpoint in particular where our dear friend, Andreas Hellingh has been giving this CD all the dues it deserves. Marvin Junior Jr pleases with his ultra soulful vocals on this jam, and
Their take on Jeffree's Love Is Gonna Last is great, and mostly instrumental with tasty sax from Ray Silkman. It is very honest to the original song. However, the real clincher for me, over and above these tasty morsels is on the KILLER dancer "Get Up". The Chic-ish 80s goodtimes vibe is something that really motivates me and makes the start to my day a LOT better, and if we did not know that C. Chung was adding his vocals we could easily be thinking that Jeffree himself could be participating on this. What a stupendous and essential track; one I cannot stop playing. The 80s groove, soulful vocals, flute and scrtatchy guitar really invoke happy memories and sets out to make this a memorable dancer. This sort of stuff perfectly shows up this "R&B" stuff for what it is. Enough said.

I Chadwick weighs in with some more superb vocals to the 80s inspired "This Is A Party" - again joviality in the groove is the order of the day. I absolutely adore the FUNKY instrumental, "Steppers Paradise" which harks back to classic funk numbers from the likes of Kleeer, Slave and even Harvey Mason. The slap bass, keys and funky rhythm is completely and utterly irresistible. "Windy City" is neither a version of the old Carl Davis / Windy City Orchestra or recent Steve Butler / Ron Haynes songs, but a new song featuring a soulful Lady called P. Alston.

I would like to hear more from this Lady on similar grooves in future! "I Feel Like Steppin'" and "Double Down" are also competant but don't rewach me in the same way as all the other tracks. However, the album completes itself nicely in a very Soul II Soul mode with the saxy "Double Down" featuring a Walter Beasley-ish sax and Norman Brown styled guitar. Very nice indeed, and a gentle way to wrap up this most satisfying and essentail album. When I go on holiday this year I know what CD is coming with me!!! Absolutely essential and I strongly recommend a visit to CD Baby to check it out.
- Barry Towler