Soul II Soul: Keep on Movin’ (1989)

9369-keep-on-movin

By Scott Goldfine

And now, for something completely different — the debut of a new musical aggregate headed by English producer/arranger Jazzie B. and writer/programmer Nellee Hooper. Soul II Soul and its many members, called The Funki Dreds, weave together dance music that is characterized by the blending of R&B, rap, reggae, African and jazz elements. The nine-cut package, which showcases vocalists Do’Reen, Caron Wheeler and Rose Windross, delightfully embodies the spirit of constructive musical experimentation.

The first single and title tune ― an alluring mid-tempo item highlighted by Ms. Wheeler’s eloquent vocal, teasingly restrained piano playing, perky percussion and slight string accents — is already a certified R&B hit and making inroads on pop radio as well. Other key tunes include the funky “Fairplay” featuring Ms. Windross’ eclectically soaring singing, the flute-driven instrumental “African Dance,” the P-Funk inflected “Feel Free” featuring Do’Reen’s soulful pipes and the house music-styled “Happiness.”

Jazzie B. and Nellee Hooper have succeeded in creating a unique product by adhering to the philosophy of intricate conception and simple execution. Perhaps due to their isolation from the United States, the pair have constructed an album and a sound that leaps out from the pack when contrasted with the current glut of cloned styles currently heard on the radio.

GRADE: B+

Keep On Movin’ GET NOW (Amazon)

Scott Goldfine

As a fervid lifelong music & film enthusiast / student, I grew up in and around the Los Angeles entertainment industry. I have worked and held many positions in various media realms, since 1998 serving as Editor-in-Chief and now Associate Publisher for Security Sales & Integration, a trade publication serving the electronic security industry. I love several genres of music & film. The former includes funk (Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, Ohio Players, etc.); blues (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, etc.); rock (Jack White, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young, etc.); hard rock (AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc.); jazz (Herbie Hancock, Bob James, Crusaders, etc.); R&B (Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Gil Scott-Heron, etc.); and more. I was a club disc jockey and ran a mobile DJ company (Musical Moods) for more than 15 years, which is where the name Dr. GX originates (Doctor Good Times). Fave film genres include horror (Dawn of the Dead, Evil Dead, Nightmare on Elm Street, etc.); science fiction (Aliens, Terminator, 2001, etc.); action (Warriors, Road Warrior, Die Hard); westerns (Outlaw Josey Wales, Showdown at OK Corral; Wild Bunch, etc.); suspense (Jaws, Inception, Silence of the Lambs, etc.); drama (Apocalypse Now, Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, etc.); and comedies (Life of Brian, Superbad, Ruthless People, etc.). I have attended many hundreds of concerts and movies (in theaters or screenings). I may as well also throw in a few favorite TV shows to give an even broader taste of my sensibilities. A handful would be Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, Lost, Justified, Fargo, Seinfeld, Sopranos, South Park, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Key & Peele, Monty Python, Inside Amy Schumer, Louie, Modern Family, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Last Man on Earth, Bob Newhart Show, All in the Family and The Office. Fave authors are Stephen King, Clive Barker and Michael Crichton. I am also a big sports fan and lifelong supporter of the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB). Also enjoy my family of course, electronics/computers/AV gear, and animals, nature and outdoor activities. Graduate of Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica College and California State University Northridge (Radio-TV-Film, Psychology minor). Also studied at UCLA for kinesiology/psychology and earned post-grad Certificate in Accounting from Santa Monica College. Present main occupation is as Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Security Sales & Integration (SSI), which I joined in 1998. I am responsible for overseeing all editorial content in print. online, electronic, in-person and any other media or products for the electronic security industry's leading business-to-business trade publication. SSI is part of Framingham, Mass.-based Emerald Expositions.