4hero- ‘Play With The Changes’
4Hero was known primarily for helping usher in the drum and bass movement in the UK. It was the group’s ‘Two Pages’ album that found them connecting the dots between electronica, jazz and soul. The definitive moment came when they were commissioned to remix an obscure Rotary Connection remake by Masters At Work/Nuyorican Soul entitled ‘I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun’ in 97. 4hero not only expanded on MAW’s version but incorporated more elements of the original and ultimately blew the lid off by bringing Drum and Bass midway through the mix. As label mates on the oversees Talkin’ Loud label they shared a desired passion and sensibility for classic experimental soul music regardless of genre. 4hero’s next album saw them rewrite their musical affinities by producing an LP of Soul, Jazz and Electronica fusion. Their dedication to classic soul reached a pinnacle when they covered the flower power epic ‘Les Fleur’, originally by Rotary Connection’s star Minnie Riperton. They not only augmented on the string orchestration of the original but channeled Riperton through vocalist Carina Andersson. I kid you not she sounds that similar. I thought they just lifted the vocals from the original. This release was epic and closed out the ‘Creating Patterns’ LP which also included contributions from the likes of Ursula Rucker, Jill Scott, and Sylk 130 alumni Lady Alma Horton.
‘Play With the Changes’ picks up where the ‘Les Fleur’ left off. Once again paying homage to Riperton with their own original ‘Morning Child’, the album begins it’s balancing act that provides an interesting listen. This time out the LP bounces back and forth between each member’s taste and influence in music. While there isn’t anything as distinctively psychedelic and soulful as the opening track the album delivers the goods through a variety of styles heard through the soul spectrum. The bounce of Lady Alma’s ‘Gonna Give It Up’ is as funky as you can get. Ursula Rucker returns and delivers relevant speak over cosmic jazz on ‘The Awakening’. Brazilian vocalist Bembe Segue gives it up impressively with jazz brat vocals on the post broken beat vibe of ‘Something In The Way’. Darian Brockington also croons on the sensual ‘Give In’ and later delivers his best Stevie Wonder on ‘Superwoman’. Jack Davey declares her autonomy over a bed of laid back beats and bass squelches on ‘Take My Time’, while Jody Watley gives a stellar performance which ranks high with anything she did in the eighties on ‘Bed of Roses’. 4hero’s ‘Play With The Changes’ does exactly that.
Friday, June 1, 2007
4hero- ‘Play With The Changes’
4Hero was known primarily for helping usher in the drum and bass movement in the UK. It was the group’s ‘Two Pages’ album that found them connecting the dots between electronica, jazz and soul. The definitive moment came when they were commissioned to remix an obscure Rotary Connection remake by Masters At Work/Nuyorican Soul entitled ‘I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun’ in 97. 4hero not only expanded on MAW’s version but incorporated more elements of the original and ultimately blew the lid off by bringing Drum and Bass midway through the mix. As label mates on the oversees Talkin’ Loud label they shared a desired passion and sensibility for classic experimental soul music regardless of genre. 4hero’s next album saw them rewrite their musical affinities by producing an LP of Soul, Jazz and Electronica fusion. Their dedication to classic soul reached a pinnacle when they covered the flower power epic ‘Les Fleur’, originally by Rotary Connection’s star Minnie Riperton. They not only augmented on the string orchestration of the original but channeled Riperton through vocalist Carina Andersson. I kid you not she sounds that similar. I thought they just lifted the vocals from the original. This release was epic and closed out the ‘Creating Patterns’ LP which also included contributions from the likes of Ursula Rucker, Jill Scott, and Sylk 130 alumni Lady Alma Horton.
‘Play With the Changes’ picks up where the ‘Les Fleur’ left off. Once again paying homage to Riperton with their own original ‘Morning Child’, the album begins it’s balancing act that provides an interesting listen. This time out the LP bounces back and forth between each member’s taste and influence in music. While there isn’t anything as distinctively psychedelic and soulful as the opening track the album delivers the goods through a variety of styles heard through the soul spectrum. The bounce of Lady Alma’s ‘Gonna Give It Up’ is as funky as you can get. Ursula Rucker returns and delivers relevant speak over cosmic jazz on ‘The Awakening’. Brazilian vocalist Bembe Segue gives it up impressively with jazz brat vocals on the post broken beat vibe of ‘Something In The Way’. Darian Brockington also croons on the sensual ‘Give In’ and later delivers his best Stevie Wonder on ‘Superwoman’. Jack Davey declares her autonomy over a bed of laid back beats and bass squelches on ‘Take My Time’, while Jody Watley gives a stellar performance which ranks high with anything she did in the eighties on ‘Bed of Roses’. 4hero’s ‘Play With The Changes’ does exactly that.
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