This is a very, very strong 90s album from the legendary vibesman, Roy Ayers. The feel is very 90s, yet owes a lot to the hard, thumping bass style of Mtume in the mid 1980s. I was, and still am, very excited about this album. In an interview at the time, Roy was excited in the fact that RCA had allowed him total creative freedom to deliver the album he really wanted. Well, the results speak for themselves. Such a funky, jazzy and screamingly essential album. The funky and cool opening "Nasté" cut features the brilliant Richard Shade on vocals - he sounds as if he's slipped straight out of a 70s funk band and found himself in the mid 90s. Brilliantly delivered and sop perfect for Roy's edgier and harder sound. Roy is a genius and when he is allowed to do his own thing really does not disappoint. Another superb track in this vein is the brilliant, brilliant "Swirl". I never tire of playing these songs, and it was a real pleasure to see Roy and Richard perform these songs live in Bournemouth back in 1995. Superb. "Fantasy" was another cut which they performed live, Richard absolutely revelling in his vocal contribution. This is a killer cut by anyone's standard, and the outrageously sexy voiced Wumni joins in with some flirty pillow talk with Roy, paced against the sexy undercurrent groove, Richard's falsetto and Roy's distinctive vibes is a true wonder to behold. Tracks such as "Baby Set Me Free" (featuring Sax legend James Moody) and "Treasure" are more traditional efforts in that they could have been lifted from any of his Columbia efforts from the 1980s. Such a classy album and still available at ridiculously inexpensive prices. I look forward to more work such as this from Roy.
Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe
The Vibe Scribe
