Search - Hil St Soul :: Black Rose

Integrating gracefully pop, jazz, folk, R&B, Soul in an elec

South End | 06/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hil St. Soul's "Black Rose" is a follow-up to the group's last critically acclaimed CD, "SOULifidied".

The album enjoyed great success at radio earning a Top 20 Urban AC hit with its first single "Goodbye". The second single, "Hey Boy," also a Top 20 hit.

On "Copasetik & Cool", Mwelwa's gospel charged vocals fired up tracks like the down-home ditty " I've Got Me" which highlights the positive attitude of the lyrics.

"Black Rose showcases Hilary Mwelwa's trademark soul stirring, ultra smooth and hypnotic vocals along with her poetic and self-empowering lyrics and producer and partner Victor Redwood Sawyerr's tight head-nodding tracks and infectious grooves.

The album features such highlights as the sensuous jam "Gravity" about the allure of falling in love and "Smile, "an uplifting anthem that is perfect for today's fast paced and troubling times that encourages one to find happiness own personal oasis while "Ghetto" is a funky syncopated number that reminds one to remember who you are and where you come from.

An ethereal song about how the world has changed. Hilary quotes from Stevie Wonder's 'Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday' asking the question "What happened to the world we knew?" Hilary explains, "Sweetest day" is really about remembering and romanticizing about my childhood when everything seemed much calmer and rosier. I feel the world these days seems a lot colder and I wouldn't want to be a child growing up in this day and age." Of special note is the bluesy and previously never before recorded India.Arie track "Life".

It's a beautiful emotional record, Hil St. Soul's voice is oustanding, uplifting but also very moving.

Attempting to dismiss the smooth jazz infused stylings of Zambia-born songstress is pointless for the R&B aficionado. Her rich voice and thoughtful lyrics take you back to the days when studios full of knobs and do-hickeys weren't needed to produce a sound worth listening to.

Her rich voice and thoughtful lyrics take you back to the days when studios full of knobs and do-hickeys weren't needed to produce a sound worth listening to.

This compilation of songs is powerful - both lyrically and musically, her eloquence and haunting voice last long after the music has ended

It's a pity that Hilary Mwelwa is on a small-budget label and strictly compartmentalized into "grown folks R&B," with little chance of anyone under the age of 30 being exposed to her.

The London based Hilary's forth album is a solid affair and is mainly produced by Victor Redwood Sawyer who is also responsible for most of the instrumentation and programming. Hil co-wrote many of the songs and her layered vocals shine throughout.

She integrates gracefully pop, jazz, folk, R&B, Soul in an electrifying and captivating set.

My standouts are the organic head nodder's "Gravity" , "Black Rose" and "If I Was You".

Also check the mid tempo groover's "We Were In love" and "Hanging On", the groove ridden "Don't Forget The Ghetto" and the slower "Broken Again" and "Smile".

Then again, with purposely flash-less songs like the nostalgic "Sweetest Days" ("There was no Nintendo or computer games but a natural interaction with your friends") and the motherly "Don't Forget the Ghetto" ("What is a dollar if you got no sense?"), it's clear that her character is more in line with the relatively mature crowd...So sad!

This is a good album that would have benefited from more live instrumentation.

I would end saying that Hilary shows two faces on this well crafted album : one is a melodic storyteller with a bluesy voiced folk delivery. Her songs of urban life are touching, grim and harsh, like "Do't Forget The Ghetto", which is a look at the hurdles in front of race issues.

The other one is the acconplished musician, who play and sings in great fashion beautiful, modern and hearfelt melodies which will hit your heart and soul.

Listen to it once, then listen again - she will win you over repeated listenings.



Shine

Soulidified

Copasetik & Cool

Soul Organic





"

Another great album by an underrated artist!

trevtnyc | New York, NY United States | 06/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hil St. Soul is back with an amazing effort, blending smooth jazz, r&b, acid jazz, hip hop and funk with a breezy but powerful voice that compliments the great music and songwriting perfectly. I love all of her albums, and this one does not disappoint. It's unfortunate that an artist of her talent isn't a mega star here in the US, but when you look and listen to what people consider good in this country I can see why. Don't ever sell out, Hillary, you are incredible!"

Black Rose

Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 06/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While you always see the beautiful Hilary Mwelwa on the cover of Hil St. Soul albums (pronounced "Hill Street Soul"), the project is really a duo effort by the Zamiba born/London raised singer and producer Victor Redwood Sawyerr (founder of the UK's Blak Twang). The soulful combo divinely mixes pop with nu jazz... they have delivered a brand new collection of hypnotic, velvety smooth, urban grooves with rich vocals on BLACK ROSE. Hilary's commanding vocal prowess is once again in the spotlight and showcased on this very sophisticated song list. She reports, "I've grown and evolved as a person since my last CD and I share some of what I have learned and experienced on this album." Hil St. Soul's beautiful and smart front woman holds a degree in biological sciences... her approach to lyric writing is socially philosophical and self-revealing. The smooth urban collective is critically acclaimed, receiving praise globally since their debut with SOUL ORGANIC. USA Today calls Mwelwa's voice "Always enticing!" while The Associated Press says that the HSS sound is "organic, soulful and all their own." Fans of neo soul, nu jazz, lounge, chill and Smooth Jazz will truly enjoy BLACK ROSE with tunes like the poignant and catchy "Don't Forget The Ghetto," the airy and urban "Sweetest Days," and the Smooth Jazz single, "We Were In Love." That which we call a BLACK ROSE, by any other name would sound as sweet."