Motown , as I mentioned in my review of By All Means' essential "It's Real" album was - up until Andre Harrell and his Uptown Homeboys took over in 1996 - really firing on all cylinders in the 1990s. Where MCA used to be dependable for quality soul releases, this was no longer the case and Motown had taken over that mantle. The latest in a long line of QUALITY 90s Motown releases was Byron "Blu" Mitchell with his superb "From Out Of The Blu". This year saw one of the hottest on record in the UK and Blu, along with producer Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Toné fame stepped up to the plate and met it head on with a CD crammed with cool summertime vibes that were - and are still - unbeatable. If you own the 1993 Tony Toni Toné set then you cannot fail to know and love "Anniversary". If that vibe is right up your street then this CD is for you! The first song was revisited in amended form by the Dazz Band on their "Time Traveller" album back in '01 but the original - and best - is here complete with hi-hat and funky, summery, 70s guitar licks. I can feel the warm breeze on my skin as soon as this song opens up. Handy when all I see from my window is melting snow! "Let's Get Together", complete with flute, brass and strings is a joy to behold - Blu is a very competent vocalist and totally at home on this sort of groove, as he is with the down-low and sexy "Pillow Talk". My, this is a sexy track and the dreamy vibes and 80s keys work in conjunction with a deep, rumbling bass line to make a very horny groove indeed. So sad that this material was soon to be swept away for the likes of Horace Brown, 702 and quite a few others I don't really want to recall right now. Summer exudes from the flute-filled 70s midtempo, "Out Of The Blu", and the brilliant "Lip Service" will do nothing but get a smile on your face. This track is upbeat and perfect for radio or the dancefloor. The Philly guitar, trotting beats and laid-back synth underpin a monster 90s groove. Brilliant. A better dancer, though, is "Most Wanted" - rather in the vein of the Tony's "I Couldn't Keep It To Myself", I have seen this work a dancefloor to great effect. Who says quality can't work on a dancefloor? I have left my favourite song til last. This is nearly 6 minutes of 90s soul heaven in a Philly mode complete with sitar, flute and strings. The lyrics even remind me of what Thom Bell may have crafted, but the beats and the aura is still very much mid 90s. This track is beyond essential, and it saddens me to think that there was never a follow-up album. We can only hope!
Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe
The Vibe Scribe
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