RUBY TURNER – LIVIN’ A LIFE OF LOVE: THE JIVE ANTHOLOGY
1986-1991
Classic work from Ruby Turner – a UK soul singer, but one
who was part of a new generation that hardly had to answer at all to her
contemporaries on the other side of the Atlantic! The tracks here have a
modern, midtempo groove that's right up there with the best US mainstream soul
of the period – and Turner's voice, honed by years of work with others, really
soars out right from the start – with a richness that really keeps these songs
fresh, even past some of the production styles of the time! Ruby sings here as
if she's working for Atlantic Records at the end of the 60s, and not Jive
Records in the 80s – and she brings a proud, full sound to her vocals that
holds up wonderfully over the years. The set's a really well-chosen batch of
tracks – 32 numbers that show Turner at her best, including duets woth Jimmy
Ruffin and Jonathan Butler – with titles that include "I'm Livin A Life Of
Love", "Hurting Inside", "If You're Ready Come With
Me", "I'm In Love", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "It's
My Life (ext version)", "Step In My Shoes", "Still Waters
Run Deep", "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted", "Just My
Imagination", "It's Gonna Be Alright", "Paradise (radio
edit)", "Everytime I Breathe", "It's Gonna Be Alright
(Brixton bass mix)", "It's You My Heart Beats For", "Merry
Go Round", and "Provoking".
~ Dusty Groove
SOWECO – KEEP ON
Soweco is just a trio, but one that comes across with the
fullness of a classic combo from years back – particularly the sorts of
blue-eyed soul groups from the end of the 70s! Singer Fredric Frosche Renmark
has a great range, and this warmly gliding style to his vocals – which are set
up over jazzy keyboards by Mattias Roos and drums from Peter Gustafsson –
augmented by other touches in the studio, but also as lean as the lineup might
imply! This isn't a contemporary beats and keys project – and instead, the
whole thing's got a charm that goes back to the old school. The album's issued
on the same label as work by guitarist U-Nam – who guests here on two tracks –
and there's definitely the same blend of jazz, soul, and funk going on in the
music. Titles include "Keep On", "Forget For A Moment",
"Lucky Charm", "Way Up High", "Let The Rain Fall
Down", "Your Love", and "By The Sea". ~ Dusty Groove
LA BAND DEL BRASILIANO VOL. 2
A contemporary record, but one that's got a very vintage
vibe – served up by a young Italian combo whose style hearkens back to the
grooviest styles of the 60s! Most of the tunes are romping, jerking, and
jumping – that mod 60s blend of soul, rock, and jazz elements that flourished
strongly on the Euro scene – and which built a very hip bridge between American
styles and the newly emerging hipster scene overseas! Vocals are by both female
and male singers – sometimes alone, sometimes together – and the
instrumentation is heavy on Hammond, guitar, and saxes – on titles that include
"92 Minuto", "La Verita", "Impossibile",
"Hey Ragazzo", "Un'Ora In Piu", "Eclisse Twist",
and "Preparati Bambina". ~ Dusty Groove
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