Music Reviews
Artist:
UKSTREETSOUNDS COMPILATION CDTitle:
STREET SOULSTARS VOLUME 3Website:
http://www.ukstreetsounds.com/ss
UKSTREETSOUNDS is an affiliation of independent label, Eastside Records, and represents artists within UK Hip Hop, Grime and R&B music genres. With the success of their online store www.ukstreetsounds.com/ss , they’ve expanded their empire and released a few projects of their own.
STREET SOULSTARS is a venture consisting of established and rising artists within Soul, R&B and 2-Step. The third instalment has been released and is available for purchase at most online stores such as itunes, Napster, HMV, MSN and across all UK mobile phone networks.
Rising talent Lauren Mason introduces the compilation CD with a capital BOOM, and although the intro to the beat may make you wonder if the CD works it concluded a catchy tune. 1Xtra’s favourite soulsta NY opens the second track with ‘Who Is She’ and later collaborates with male vocalist Tension but the production sounds a bit confused… Not always heard but the never forgotten Shola Ama lays down her vocals with her ‘OVER’ track, but again it doesn’t seem to work with the production! And when there’s a Shola there’s a Sadie! ‘THA ONE’ featuring Wiley.
Gemma Fox tries out some club/soulful beats with ‘Think I’m In Love’ and Eastside Record’s Natalie Williams doesn’t appear unnoticed with ‘BUTTERFLY RMX’. Other highlights include the self titled ‘GHETTO LUV’, Feyi ‘NEVER’ and the sweet vocalist Larissa with ‘FREESTYLE’. Further credits include Jai Amore, Vula, LA and the former Cleopatra member, Cleo.
The soulful music genres in the UK can be overlooked and neglected as it’s probably the most competitive genre within the mainstream. UKSTREETSOUNDS is a great platform to present projects in areas some independent artists can’t reach, and STREET SOULSTARS will eventually speak volume.
All in all it’s nice to hear some UK soulful talents represented on one project, but it’s definitely the production that clashes with vocals which will disadvantage successful progress within the industry.
Reviewed by :
Nina Carmela
