review by Mike Bond

MATTI ROOTS - SEE YOU AGAIN

"Polished and predictable, at a stretch even soulful and smooth, SEE YOU AGAIN is a single that just never excites or thrill, Matti Roots may be a talented performer and vocalist, but unfortunately with SEE YOU AGAIN he fails to really impress."

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MATTI ROOTS - SEE YOU AGAIN
See You Again / Yungun Remix / Sweldaag Remix / Femifem Remix
OTHERWAY RECORDS

Super smooth and impossibly slick, SEE YOU AGAIN the debut single from rising UK RnB star Matti Roots is a slice of soulful mainstream pop that sounds like the missing link between Stevie Wonder and Gnarls Barkley.
Setting his sites on some of that tasty mainstream chart action, SEE YOU AGAIN is about as slick and soulful as they come, though be warned if you're looking for anything more than bland coffee table RnB you'd be advised to steer clear. Matti Roots delivers his vocals in that smooth Alexander O Neal or Craig David manner, all manner of vocal gymnastics and quivering high notes failing to disguise the fact that this could be the work of any number of faceless RnB vocalists doing the rounds lately. Polished and slick to the point of exhaustion, SEE YOU AGAIN is about as safe and reliable a modern RnB record as you're ever likely to hear - no surprises or left turns here, just the usual combination of familiar beats and overly considered melodies.
Polished and predictable, at a stretch even soulful and smooth, SEE YOU AGAIN is a single that just never excites or thrill, Matti Roots may be a talented performer and vocalist, but unfortunately with SEE YOU AGAIN he fails to really impress.

BIOGRAPHY
Released February 12, 2007 through Otherway Records SEE YOU AGIN is the outstanding debut solo single from acclaimed UK producer Matti Roots.
As stylish and sexy as the man himself with it's contagious smooth groove, uplifting melody and fusion of Soul, R&B and Jazz - SEE YOU AGAIN mixes the old skool with the new. It not only displays a fresh unique production style but also lends itself perfectly to the vocal sensuality of the 28 year old who looks set to be one of 2007's biggest success stories.
Schooled in classical and jazz, Matti Roots has worked with some of the UK's biggest names. These include Miss Dynamite, Mystique and most recently Reggae artist Smujji, Hip-Hop MC Yungun and soul sensation Iman who features on Gilles Peterson's new compilation 'Brownswood Bubblers'. Matti Roots has also worked with major US artists such as Slum Village and Blackalicious to name but a few.
Having already secured the support of Radio 1's Gilles Peterson and Ras Kwame who recognised Matti's unique production skills on tracks for revered UK artists Smujji and Sweldaag - Matti Roots is already impressing and inspiring his peers. Matti single has recently been playlisted on new show Born 'n' Bread on Galaxy Radio. With remixes from revered UK MC Yungun, a dancehall remix from Sweldaag - he recently supported Beenie Man on his UK tour - and a house remix from Femi Fem - founding member of seminal soul collective Young Disciples - SEE YOU AGAIN has the potential to be a massive cross-over hit for Matti Roots.
Supporting Matti Roots on this project is a musical dream team - a band that comprises some of the UK's finest musicians. These include Paul Stanley Mackenzie (International Young Drummer Of The Year), Ben Jones on guitar (Nate James, Natalie Williams), Pete Cherry on bass (Aleesha, Nash) and Alison Grant on backing vocals (Terri Walker) and of course Matti Roots himself at the helm on keyboards and lead vocals.
Currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to his debut album Matti Roots has the capacity to explore any kind of music that sparks his interest be it reggae, dancehall, hip-hop or soul, jazz or folk. There lies however one common thread...good music.
That's what it's about after all.
Everybody Needs Roots.

LINE UP
Matti Roots
Pete Cherry
Alison Grant
Paul Stanley Mackenzie
Ben Jones

DISCOGRAPHY
SEE YOU AGAIN (Otherway Records>2007)
See You Again (Original)
See You Again (Yungun Remix)
See You Again (Sweldaag Remix)
See You Again (Femifem Remix)

LINKS
Matti Roots>www.myspace.com/mattiroots

FURTHER LISTENING
Gnarls Barkley
Nate James
Stevie Wonder

Review date: February 2007