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4HERO - PLAY WITH THE CHANGES
Morning Child / Take My Time / Look Inside / Sink Or Swim / Give In / Play With The Changes / Something In The Way / Stoke Up The Fire / Awakening / Sophia / Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You?) / Why Don't You Talk? / Bed Of Roses / Gonna Give It Up / Dedication To The Horse
RAW CANVAS RECORDS
Returning with their first album in six years, Dego McFarlane and Mark Mac are back under their 4hero guise with PLAY WITH THE CHANGES, the successor to their hugely influential and successful previous effort CREATING PATTERNS.
Following a string of award nominations including the Mercury Music prize and MOBOs, this is a return to normality; a collection of soulful dance that takes its cues from underground techno, Chicago soul, blues, pop and electronica.
Album opener MORNING CHILD finds the duo reunited with vocalist Carina Anderson, the voice behind the last records memorable take on Minnie Ripperton's LES FLEUR; this time round launching into a technicolor slice of retro soul, echoes of Burt Bacharach, Saint Etienne and John Barry dominating proceedings.
PLAY WITH THE CHANGES is a record chock full of guest vocalists, the likes of Jack Davey and Lady Alma popping up on TAKE MY TIME and SINK OR SWIM respectively, lending the songs a classy and intoxicating edge. Disappointingly, this is a record that on occasions can drift off into dull meanderings however; GIVE IN featuring Darien Brockington and Phonte of Little Brother, a case in point, a faceless slice of overly slick and smooth RnB that lacks much in the way of the groundbreaking magic that 4hero have become renowned for over the years.
Title track PLAY WITH THE CHANGES is an improvement, Talita Long and Larry Mizell lending some legendary soul experience, the song coming on like some long lost classic seventies session featuring Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick. The intoxicating AWAKENING features Ursula Rucker on fierce form, delivering stream of consciousness poetry over a smooth drum n bass backing and soulful funk stabs.
Elsewhere SOPHIA is a sublime orchestral funk soul workout, WHY DON'T YOU TALK a slick jam that immerses itself in free jazz conventions and BED OF ROSES a superior slice of chilled out drum n bass that boasts Grammy award winning legend Jody Watley on sublime vocal duties.
PLAY WITH THE CHANGES may not quite reach the same groundbreaking heights as previous records in 4heros past, but as a lesson in lush dance music taking in everything from retro funk to soulful pop to underground electronica, 4hero once again deliver the goods with style here.
BIOGRAPHY
True originators are thin on the ground but 4hero's claim is more robust than most.
As pioneers of jungle and drum n bass, they massively changed the face of 90s music and made a huge contribution to dance culture. Forging ahead with new beats and new techniques, the London duo have released a steady stream of precious moments and crafted a sound which is entirely their own.
PLAY WITH THE CHANGES will be their first album for 6 years in a prolific career that has gained critical acclaim, a Mercury nomination, MOBO award and widespread respect from the music fraternity. It is 4hero's duality of approach which makes them truly unique. Influenced by underground techno as much as
Chicago soul, their music is a synthesis of past and future, artificial and organic, strange and familiar. Intertwining live and electronic sounds, 4hero create futuristic soul for real music heads.
PLAY WITH THE CHANGES is a richly textured and musically complex album. Fluttering, delicate beats mutate into orchestral excursions. Strings and live drums give way to abstract sounds and disjointed electronica. It features a role call of superior vocalists of the quality one has come to expect from 4hero, including Carina Anderson, whose contribution to LES FLEUR made it a straight up masterpiece. Poetess extraordinaire and long-time cohort Ursula Rucker lends her lyrical wisdom and Grammy award winning legend Jody Watley makes a special appearance. Daughter of Cosmic Jazz Bembe Segue, Bugz in the Attic's Kaidi Taitham, Phonte of Little Brother, Jack Davey (J*DaVeY) and Larry Mizell (who has written and produced for the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye and countless others) join a host of new evolving talent.
PLAY WITH THE CHANGES takes us on a hall of fame esque journey with an array of talented musicians, poets and singers. Their pedigree is beyond dispute and their music has always has a much deeper significance than simply moving the crowd.
This is an amazingly beautiful album with roots deep in blues, soul and with underlying tones of electronica this modern day twist is a fantastic come back for 4hero. You will not be disappointed.
LINE UP
Dego McFarlane
Mark Mac
Carina Andersson
Jack Davey
FACE
Lady Alma
Darien Brockington
Phonte
Talita Long
Larry Mizell
Bembe Segue
Kaidi Taitham
Ursula Rucker
Terry D
Jody Watley
DISCOGRAPHY
PLAY WITH THE CHANGES (Raw Canvas Records>2007)
Morning Child
Take My Time
Look Inside
Sink Or Swim
Give In
Play With The Changes
Something In The Way
Stoke Up The Fire
Awakening
Sophia
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You?)
Why Don't You Talk?
Bed Of Roses
Gonna Give It Up
Dedication To The Horse
LINKS
4hero>www.4hero.co.uk
FURTHER LISTENING
Roni Size
Basement Jaxx
Zero 7
Review date: January 2007 |
