Soul Express Album Review LAB ADDICTS Elements Of Soul (UK Soulchoonz Records, 2006) 1) Move All Night 2) Tonight 3) Just For Love 4) Apologise 5) More Than Friends 6) Don’t U Know 7) Groove On (Remix) 8) Movement (Bonus Track) This trio have caused a real stir of the UK scene. This album was produced in conjunction with Di-Lee Promotions, and is specifically tailored with the UK/European Soul Scene’s in mind. This planning and forethought has obviously worked wonders! These guys performed in the Lounge at the Birmingham Luxury Soul Weekender in May 2006 – by all accounts it was a fantastic performance. As I wasn’t there, much to my shame, it was not until I heard this group on Solar Radio and then had to check them out. These fellas hail from New Jersey. John Thomason has a background based in his father’s church and so joins many of his predecessors in having strong musical foundations. Robert Betrus is a multi-skilled musician as well as a writer and producer and Marcel Brooks was born in Jamaica where he sang gospel. With this strong foundation it isn’t surprising that they have the combined talents to produce something very worthwhile. Their third studio album is a very modern album and is biased towards the dancefloor, which is probably why the UK scene has picked up on it in a big way. I am happy for this as it’s a really good set, but many in the UK scene only seem interested in club / dance music to the point that much quality downtempo stuff is left by the wayside. It has always bemused me. Still, each to their own. I am not a fan of sampling and on the whole the chaps craft their own grooves as well and true as they can. One can tell that there is a love of 80s sounds from the flow of tracks, the more intricate arrangements and the samples they use. Hubert Laws and Dennis Edwards get interpolated intricately and with some intelligence. We are not talking wholesale ripping-off a la Kanye West, P. Duddy and all the rest. These guys can play and they can sing. Any samples they use are supportive and not the mainstay of the songs. "Just 4 Love" is point of fact on this and after hearing it I was as impressed as when Zhané made use of it back in 1997. Of the original grooves "Move All Night" has a fantastic "feel good" vibe and will definitely be one for the New Year parties that will abound. I adore the early 80s sensibility here and vocally the guys are spot on. The following cut, "Tonight" is also a great 80s number which evokes shufflers from the BB&Q Band with Curtis Hairston. Vocally it sounds like Damien Hall is in charge and this type of groove would have suited him very well. Thank God the Teddy Riley sound died a death! One song that I will always love is Dennis Edwards’ "(You’re My) Aphrodisiac" and the guys have made use of the key and guitar riff from this classic groove on the superb groove "More Than Friends". I think you’ll like this too. Better than this is the excellent – and possibly most soulful effort – "Don’t U Know". I feel that this is one of the strongest vocal performances on this album – and none of them are at all weak in any case! For the dancers "Groove On" will do the business as will the sublime bonus track "Movement" which has a very jazzy flavour. Check the flute! I really enjoyed this album as it is a breath of fresh air. It's nice to hear some uptempo material that is neither ‘street’ or too British sounding - even though it was directed at this particular market. More of it please! Check they guys out on www.soulchoonz.com. - Barry Towler Other CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2006 Albums of the Month in 2005 Albums of the Month in 2004 Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 Other CD
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