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Music Is The Food Of Love
  Music Is The Food Of Love  
  Recommended if you like:
- Eric Roberson
- Craig David
- Virtual Jazz Band
- Jaheim
- Soul II Soul
 
Review
David Mensah 'Music Is The Food Of Love' [VME]
 

Virtual Media Enterprises (V.M.E) present David Mensah’s debut CD “Music Is The Food Of Love.” As the CD starts with “We’re Gonna Take You Back” (Interlude), it captures your heart and your ears with a respectful journey back in time to David’s love of soul music; the music he was brought up hearing. The intro has references to Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the late Luther Vandross and the thumpin’ bass of Soul 11 Soul. Combine this with the writing, production and keyboard capabilities of Wayne Brown (who has collaborated with Earth Wind & Fire, George Michael, Stevie Winwood, Billy Ocean) and you will hear why I love this album - as these two people work so well together in writing and producing most of the album. “My Day” follows. This is a song about people not interacting with each other anymore - no smiles, not knowing your neighbours and no warmth to touch the soul. David says make “My Day” by smiling, a simple but effective way of bringing some sunshine back in to the world. Slow tempo “Friends With Benefits” is about finding out a love is no longer the perfect match and deciding to part as friends, as his heart will never be free to love another whilst they remain friends ‘with benefits’ because he still holds deep feelings of this love which makes him sometimes forget why they are no longer together. “Whatever It Takes” is a real grower written by David and Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Junior Giscombe/Wayne Brown and produced by Wayne with David saying he will do whatever it takes to make things good again, however hard it gets – he will never let her walk away. On to “Food Of Love” one of those rare gems and my absolute favourite on the album, the song says so much about the sound he wants to capture and portray as an artist. A track, which holds a big place in my heart and is awe-inspiring, with the words “Music never leaves me full… Words of music to help me grow”. Allow time to digest and soak in the simple beauty and essence of this song. David Mensah goes on to cover “Fly Me To The Moon” - a popular song covered by many artists (written by Bart Howard in 1954 and originally called "In Other Words". Lovely song and would have liked to hear it a cappella with piano accompaniment as I think it would have made an even greater track and suited the jazzy form David’s voice can hold. Calming vibe “Love In The Morning” is another beautiful song, written by Jonathan Butler/Wayne Brown and produced by Wayne; David saying “Like a flower needs the rain, like a picture needs a frame, I am lost without you, no-one else will ever do.” Then close your eyes and be mesmerised by the ebb and flow of “Independent Woman” written by David Mensah/Eric “Coptic” Matlock (US billboard producer who has collaborated with P Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Memphis Bleek, Ice Cube and more). Eric produced this stunning tune and provided extra backing vocals. Living the high-life “Hennessy” is written by David and Danish producer Jimmy Anthony with Anthony also producing this track, featuring a fitting contribution by south London’s rap artist XO Man - a song about living big over the weekend and spending all your cash by Monday which I’m sure many people will relate to. Another bootie shakin’ favourite of mine sexy dance track “Only” follows, just listen, let go of your inhibitions and enjoy another of my favourite tracks. “Patience” (Interlude) sees David becoming inpatient, telling us all he’s been singing on all kinds of stages for ages, lighting up all kinds of faces but getting impatient and frustrated to be heard by a wider audience. So take heed people! “Lately” is a song about someone becoming their own worst enemy and not giving up on them. “Day Dreaming” took a couple of listens before I appreciated and got in to the zone of the track. Love it from just before 2 minutes in to the song with extra vocals by Jimmy Antony - written by David/Eric “Coptic” Matlock and produced by Eric. Funky version of “My Day” (Virtual Jazz Band Mix) ends this CD. David takes you back with soulful sounds reminiscent of yesteryear but with his own contemporary twist, encompassing an eclectic mix of influences absorbed through observations and sounds in his lifetime so far. If you enjoy music that touches your heart and soul with meaning, then buy this CD from David Mensah - sweet “soulful melody from the heart”. A promising start to what I know will be a rewarding career for this artist, I look forward to hearing much more from David Mensah as his career unfolds.
Check out David Mensah on www.myspace.com/LondonCityRnB, www.davidmensah.com and also on Facebook. Buy this CD at CD Baby.

Tracey Cope [Just Soul]

Soul
  Soul  
  Recommended if you like:
- Sam Cooke
- Trent D'Arby
- Lionel Richie
 
Review
Seal 'Soul' [Warner Bros]
 

Following on from his 5th Warner Bros Studio Album "System," "Soul" becomes the 6th from Nigerian born, multi-platinum selling, and Grammy award winning Seal. I've admired this artist since I first knew his music in the 90's - someone with a naturally soulful voice and passion for all things good in life. As Seal sings the lyrics 'It's been hard living, but I am afraid to die," the words from this classic Sam Cook song, never fail to tug at my heartstrings, speaking so much to me. Canadian born David Foster (who has worked with Céline Dion & Barbra Streisand) delivers slick production, a man who realises talent when he has it in front of him and works with that person and the songs to bring out the best in both. David wrote 'After The Love Has Gone' for Earth, Wind and Fire together with Jay Graydon & Bill Champlin at the age of just sixteen - so I have huge respect for him. The tracks on the album are “A Change is Gonna Come, I Can’t Stand The Rain, It’s A Man’s, Man’s World, Here I Am (Come And Take Me), I’ve been Loving You Too Long, It’s Alright, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Knock On Wood, I’m Still In Love With You, Free, Stand By Me and People Get Ready;” songs originally written and performed by some of the finest soul singers past and present. "Soul" was showcased towards the end of 2008 at Ronnie Scotts, London and Seal, an artist with social/political awareness, has already performed the classic track "A Change Is Gonna Come" to President Obama. Being someone who is not normally fond of cover albums, the material on this album is a wonderful exception and stays true to the spirit of the songs and the original artists. One thing I would have been excited to hear on the CD is a couple of carefully chosen lesser known covers, sung in the same soulful way, as an introduction to those who may not have heard them and add that extra missing spark. Buy the album and see if "Soul" gets your 'seal' of approval.

Tracey Cope [Just Soul]

Feel'osophy
  Feel'osophy  
  Recommended if you like:
- Toni Braxton
- Jill Scott
- Floetry
 
Review
Tracy Cruz 'Feel'osophy' [Allen Ross]
 

“Let me start with some background on this hot new artist.” From her presence to her music to her life’s path, Tracy Cruz has become one of the most extraordinary musical wonders. Wherever she performs, she astonishes and mesmerizes. People often ask "How does that big voice come from such a little lady?" At knee high, Tracy started blessing stages at the age of twelve, competing in talent competitions and coming home with trophies. 16 years later, she continues to capture the hearts and ears of many through her powerful voice, magnetic stage presence, and soulful music. As a mother, wife, songwriter, and performer, some wonder how she managed such a sweet comeback; but she didn’t do it alone. Through the musical inspirations of Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Sarah Vaughan, and Ledisi, Tracy Cruz has blended her favorite distinctive vocal styles to create her own rare sound. Strong melodies, catchy hooks, introspective lyrics, and lush arrangements characterize Tracy’s Soul/Jazz/R&B creations. As the primary songwriter, she brings her personal observations and experiences on love and life with eloquent storytelling and vivid imagery to her songs. Her debut album “FEEL'OSOPHY” – (released September 23, 2008) – is the study of emotions through musical words and sounds. The 16 track album encompasses all layers of feeling such as joy, sorrow, anger, excitement, and hope. Tracy Cruz and producer Allen Ross purposely used different vocal styles and musical arrangements to truly capture a world of emotion in each song. Listeners will take an emotional journey of passion through "Emotional Love", wonder through "Blue Eyes," hope with "Don't Leave," and excitement with "Expression Sensation." All songs were either written solely or collaboratively by Tracy Cruz or Allen Ross, with Ross remaining the sole musical producer. Since its release, the album has won 3 Muse’s Muse Awards for “Best R&B CD Project of 2008”, “Best Lyrics Female”, and “Best R&B Single Female” and has received attention from reputable music critics and consistent airplay from radio stations across the US and around the world including KPFA 94.1 FM (Berkeley, California), KPOO 89.5 FM (San Francisco, California), KKUP 91.5 FM (Cupertino, California), KAZI 88.7 FM (Austin, Texas), Kiss FM 91.6 (Sweden), and Solar Radio (London) . The past few years have been a whirlwind of sorts for Tracy. This album serves as tremendous representation of a struggle that she powerfully deems “beautiful.” Despite the trials and tribulations of her personal life, Tracy Cruz has simply not lost her "spiritual being." Lead siren Tracy Cruz and luscious band “Smooth Session” have graced many stages such as the 102.9 FM KBLX Soul Music Festival at the Chronicle Pavilion, Maxwell's Lounge, Straits Restaurant, Santana Row, San Jose and San Francisco’s Juneteenth Festival, Ninhonmachi.

Barbara Fulton [Just Soul]

So Much to Say
  So Much to Say  
  Recommended if you like:
- Eric Roberson
- Anthony Hamilton
- John Legend
 
Review
Rob Murat 'So Much To Say' [Rob Murat]
 

Rob Murat's returns to the studio to release his album "So Much to Say", a 12 track CD that literally has Rob Murat having a lot to say. The last time we saw Rob Murat's was in his self titled album where he was enticing his listeners with tracks such as "Not your average brotha". Today, we still have Rob Murat talking about love but almost on a different level, perspective and mind state. From his lyrics, listeners can sense that Rob Murat is more than just a lover but a gentleman who can also feed the mind, the body and the soul of his listeners (particularly his female listeners.) Like his previous album, Rob Murat maintains that the strong soulful vocals that listeners can adore. What makes this album interesting is that Rob Murat's borrows different elements of music genre and incorporates this into his tracks making it versatile yet still maintaining that smooth R&B sound. For example in his track "Dilemma" he cleverly samples Doris Day's "Perhaps Perhaps". Another example is in his track "Mr. Soulman" which depicts more of a funky sound then the song title suggests but still offering catchy vibrant lyrics. One of the strengths (and also ironically could be seen as a struggle) that Rob Murat may face with this album is that he is quite genuine, something that today's popular so called R&B artists tend to lack quite dearly. Currently, it seems like the only way that an R&B artist can breakout into the mainstream is if they either use a vocoder, distorts their voice or if they are desperate enough feature Lil'Wayne in their songs to boost up their sales (which has been a noticeable sad trend in today's R&B Music.) Rob Murat would prefer to tantalize his female audiences with lyrics such as' Mr. Soulman would hit them with the slow jams, fine dinin a little bit of winin'..slow dancin' romancin' from his track Mr. Soul Man or "Today we celebrate, I don't always do my best to show you that I love you but let me put my fears to rest there is no one else above you" from his track Celebrate than singing some unoriginal, flat tired lyrics such as 'Girl I want to hit it up bad' or 'I got your girl because I am better in bed.' Is Rob Murat still trying to find that perfect love? Some could argue yes and others can argue no however one thing that can't be disputed is that Rob Murat's "So much to say" is one album that tells the listeners that Rob Murat is still a genuine gentlemen who still isn't you average brotha.

Dwight Barrett [Just Soul]

Journey
  Journey  
  Recommended if you like:
- Sade
- Anita Baker
- Billie Holiday
 
Review
Douyé 'Journey' [Besty Blue Music]
 

Beautifully texturing her pure, sultry and smoky vocals with a sensual, jazzy musical style, Nigerian born, Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Douye’ continues to broaden her base of appreciative and passionate fans all over the world. Growing up influenced by such jazz and R&B legends as Peggy Lee, Ray Charles, Billie Holliday, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Sade, the multi-faceted performer began singing in church at the age of seven and quickly began focusing on her future as a professional singer. By age ten, she was expressing her innermost emotions in poetry, which led naturally to her development as a compelling songwriter. In her mid-teens, she traveled to Europe to pursue her growing musical dreams, and she later immigrated to the United States to study voice at the acclaimed Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. After graduating from MI, Douye’ continued honing her singing, songwriting and musical direction, becoming a prolific writer and performing for audiences at clubs throughout Los Angeles. While working towards her ultimate goal of becoming a recording artist, she hit it off creatively with Terry Shaddick, a renowned pop songwriter and producer well known for co-writing Olivia Newton John’s era defining smash “Physical.” Coming to share a singular vision, Douye’ and Shaddick penned the songs that would launch Douye’s recording career on the newly released, appropriately titled debut album Journey. The title is a perfect reflection of Douye’s musical and life experiences leading up to her exciting emergence as an independent singer/songwriter. To this day, she complements her music making with deep passions for writing poetry and collecting primitive art. www.douyetheartist.com “This gifted and compassionate artist has embraced us with beautiful, inspiring and just simply good feeling music. Douye’s new CD “Journey” takes you a wonderful trip with soothing, soulful and jazzy vocals. The CD is musically sound. Douye’s vocals are reminiscent of Brenda Russell, Oleta Adams, Regina Belle and a hint of Nancy Wilson. However this artist is uniquely different with her own true talent and can only be compared to some of the best in the business. Listener’s can only leave with a great impression and appreciation.” There are plenty of highlights on this CD and a must have for your collection. Track “Fly Away” is romantic and musically jazzy, Track “In Love With You” has a smooth R&B sound with Regina Belle like vocals., “Journey” is a excellent jazz track and vocally is powerful, “Wicked War” is full of thought provoking vocals with hot jazz sounds, last but not least “Walk Away” is a favorite that once again has great vocals and is a testament of strength which make this CD inspirational throughout. Douye’s “Journey” is a great project and thanks for the music.

Barbara Fulton [Just Soul]

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