Soul II Soul

"The future of Soul II Soul: A happy face, a thumping bass, for a loving race," proclaimed
Jazzie B on "Jazzie's Groove." Who would have predicted that recipe would prove to be
the future for a generation of boho-soul musicians? When it first appeared in 1989, Soul II
Soul's Keep On Movin' seemed less of an instant classic than a hip tour of the black music
diaspora. Soul II Soul's vital sound danced between styles, often in the same son... More >

The vapidity of "A happy face, a thumping bass, for a loving race" wouldn't bother anybody if these Londoners didn't take dread in vain--with hair like that you're supposed to be more, you know, cultural. But for a disco band, they're quite all right, really--very tuneful, with a nice loping groove and vocals out of Chic and Eddy Grant. And though I wish they liked saxophones, the flute is them. (Grade: B+)