Some
years ago I approached Ralph Tee, the head honcho at
Expansion Records with an idea for a compilation album
based on my somewhat eclectic tastes in world soul or what
I now prefer to call groove orientated music. The music
was lined up but the project did not get off the ground
due to the sheer amount of work involved to bring it all
to fruition on top of everything else that I was doing at
the time.
Thus, the fact that we have now reached the eight album in
this particular compilation series is no mean feat in
itself given the amount of work that is involved to track
down and license these gems. From the opening track of
Finland's Tuomo with its swirling MFSB type backing and
jazzy electric piano break to the closing bars of DJ Jazzy
Jeff's Bobby Caldwell's influenced 'My Soul Ain't for
Sale' you have 15 tracks that ooze quality and are
absolutely timeless covering every genre of the music that
we love from Gospel through jazz funk to modern soul.
Whilst the album delivers newish tracks from soul legends
such as Billy Griffin and One Way's Alicia Myers, it is
the tracks from Europe that make the most impact and make
you realise that our music is still alive and well, you
just have to work harder to track them down!
Check Mo and Grazz who hails from the medieval city of
Brugge in Belgium for a modern soul classic, the unique
jazz funk flavoured 'Let Love Shine'from Parisians Tassel
and Naturel and Switzerland's Seven for more philly
influenced soul steppin'. Picking a favourite is
impossible because the standard is so high though the
catchy, Kirk Franklinish happy gospel singalong number
from Norman Hutchins comes close as does Germany's Wahoo
with the building rhythmic uplifting horn driven anthem.
'Don't take it personal'.
Released in the UK at the end of October and for some
reason currently being offered at a bargain price on the
HMV website this is one album that you have just got to
purchase. Essential for all soul groovers everywhere.
