Stunning!
chris@thaweb.com | Studio City, CA United States | 06/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a HUGE fan of the entire Grand Central Records catalog, I especially love Rae & Christian. Their first album, "Northern Suphuric Soul", opened me up to so many of the different genres of music that I hunt for and listen to today. Rae & Christian's sound includes elements of head- nodding U.K./U.S. hip-hop, deep soul, funk, and devastating beats, as well as incredibly gorgeous downtempo pieces with delicious vocals by various artists guaranteed to melt your heart. Anything played from their labels catalog (Only Child, Aim, etc.) is perfect for anything from laying on the beach on a perfect summer's day to having a party and wanting people to feel relaxed and just chill or be able to dance if they want to all at the same time. Anyway, on to this album. It is a live mix by Mark Rae of Rae & Christian and it is amazing. The album is loaded with slamming tracks by Grand Central artists. "Head To Head" by Fingathing is a dark and dirty menacing slice of funkiness. The Nextmen remix of Only Child's "I've Got A Right" is pure hip-hop bliss. J-Walk's "Following The Noughties" is a smoothed-out piece of chilled-out soulful grooves perfect for closing your eyes and drifting far away to. Only Child's "Getting It On" (Aquanote remix) is a sun-drenched driving-with-the-top- down number with really deep velvety vocals ("If they could only see me now...getting it on in the sunshine"). Rae & Christian's "Swimming Pool"......grooving, bumping, downtempo perfection...dim the lights, hit the couch, and reeelaaax. Newest member of the Grand Central camp Riton takes us out to the dance floor with the funky bass-slapping track "Habib" and the electronified booty quake that is "Take Control". This album is solid all the way through, not ending until Rae & Christian blow you away with the delicious "Wake Up Everybody" (R&C mix), pulled from their newest album "Sleepwalking", featuring the emotive powerful vocal talents of Bobby Womack. This album is a treasure. If you like it, start collecting all of the Grand Central long players. I have not ever been disappointed by any of their releases."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1