Search - Hil St Soul :: Soulidified

'SOULidified' Lives Up To The Name With Hil St. Soul's Best

Charles L. Hubbert | Milwaukee, WI | 05/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hil St. Soul is definitely a duo that you should know by now. Any way you look at it, Hil St. Soul possesses some of the best material that any R&B composer would relish at having. After discovering a song from their first album Soul Organic purely by accident in 2001, I was hooked from that moment to the smoothed-out sound that was lacking in R&B music at the time. The songs from that album were more suitable for a smooth jazz station than the traditional mainstream R&B stations. Then the British collective put out Copasetik and Cool in 2004, lacing in a few mid-tempo tracks and danceable cuts. Now in 2006, Hilary Mwelwa and her musical partner Victor release SOULidified, arguably the best album to come out this year so far.



That's saying a lot, I know. But one listen and you will see, or rather hear, why this is the case. The compelling vocal range of Hilary coupled with Victor's masterful production is unrivaled to say the least. From the opening track "Hey Boy," you know Hilary means business when she says "Baby take your time / I want to feel the wave of your emotion." Following that is the mouth-watering "Sweet On You," and the laidback harmony of "It's OK." "Goodbye" is a great first single selection, reminiscent of a Faith Evans or a Kelly Price in their prime. "Betta Days" sounds good enough to have been done by Kanye West with it's old school sounding sample riding the background. "Can We Spend Some Time" borrows the melody from Eddie Kendrick's "Intimate Friends" but resorts to original lyrics rather than covering his work. "We Don't Talk" is a great choice for a second single with its rising riffs and unadulterated vocals. "2 Good To Be True" is a solid R&B tune, along with the rhyme-infused "Smokey Joint." "Baby Come Over" pairs Hilary's siren-like voice with that of up-and-coming R&B new jack Dwele for one sultry selection.



The group closes out the album strong with "One Of A Kind" and "Time For Love," two seductive cuts that will not pose any problems getting the mood right. SOULidified is a complete album through and through. Don't let your hesitation get the best of you just because you might not be familiar with any of their work. Do yourself a favor and put your order in now for a true Grammy contender for R&B Album of the year."

Smoothjazz.com Review

Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 08/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like the cover of this deluxe project suggests, with Hil sitting in a big, comfy leather chair, SOULidified is about chillaxin'. A smooth, rich blend of hip-hop beats, R&B, and jazz ("soul fusion"), SOULidified is the follow-up to last years acclaimed Shanachie debut COPASETIK & COOL. Born in Zambia as Hilary Mwelwa, her family relocated to London when she was just 5 years old. Hil's father was passionate about music and it became an obsession for her as well. Their home was filled with everything from traditional Zambian music to the icons of soul including the Queen, Aretha, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. It was during a break from University (she's earned a degree in biological sciences) that Hil decided to record a demo and as they say, the rest is history. Hil St. Soul (pronounced Hil "Street" Soul) is a partnership between Mwelwa and Victor Redwood Sawyer. Together they are one of the hottest groups to emerge from London's underground music. On the MySpace page, Hil says that her personal motto is to spend her time doing what she loves... Thank goodness for that, SOULidified is drenched with songs that fill the heart with positive vibes and relaxed, hip beats. The first U.S. radio single is the feel-good, acoustic guitar-tinged, "It's Okay." Other stand out tracks include the Moby-like, "Better Days," and the soulful and chilled, "Smoky Joint." Filled with the sun of summer, SOULidified is sure to make your good times last forever. ~ SANDY SHORE"

Please don't sleep on this CD....Banging !!!

C. Smith | Washington,DC | 08/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had heard of HStS before but hadn't heard the music. Wow what a treat ! This is so soulful and the lyrics are saying something - in fact I've said some of the same things.



The beats are strong but mellow and it's just a groovethang baby !



Perfect soundtrack for that someone special or someone you want to get to know a litlle bit better..."