Soul Express Album Review ATLANTIC STARR Brilliance (Dutch Vinyl Masterpiece, 1982 / 2006) 1) Love Me Down 2) Sexy Dancer 3) Love Moves 4) Your Love Finally Ran Out 5) Circles 6) Let's Get Closer 7) Perfect Love 8) You're The One This has to be my all-time favourite Atlantic Starr album. 1982 definitely saw some classic soul / boogie released and this album was amongst a very creamy crop indeed. I love every track on here and am very, very happy with the sound quality which sounds very much to me that this was taken from the original master tapes. If not it's a jolly good bit of restoration work! I consider this album as being an essential release. From the opening number “Love Me Down” the scene is set for some serious foot tapping. These are the days, remember, before they hit big with the sugary hits “Secret Lovers” a nd “Always”. I almost became diabetic thanks to too much exposure to those songs! “Sexy Dancer” does what it says on the tin – reminding us that the gang really could cut a rug or three back in the day. The funky basslines, the insistant beats and bombastic synths suit the combined vocal talents displayed here. “Love Moves” is still a great piece of foot stomping music. That sexy, rumbling bass is just perfect! The band also know how to dish up a fantastic ballad. In fact I would say they are a rare breed who can easily dish out both dancers and ballads to perfection. Why they are not on the scene doing anything today is both criminal and beyond me. “Your Love Finally Ran Out” has shades of “Love TKO” to me, with the guitar line and all – it really is a cracker. As soon as the strings kick in I am won over. You really cannot beat real musicianship. “Circles” also cuts the mustard as far as dancers go, and “Let's Get Closer” works very well in tempering the uptempo material. Producer James Anthony Carmichael had a great run with this group as this album proves. If you love quality 80s soul and boogie then this is one album that will not disappoint. It sounds fantastic in both recording quality and style of music. Unlike the funkier Magic Lady set, the dancers here have not dated and have a freshness about them that will easily outlive much of the celebrated club material being released today. - Barry Towler The Latest CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2007 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 |