There will always be room in my life for at least two Soul II Soul records. Back To Life is where British soul met house music and went to the top of the charts. It sounds as much like 1989 as anything else from that year. The video is seductive too, the lighting on the steps, the richness of the colours, the roof top party, the sense of inclusiveness.
The other is Get A Life from 1990, which I love as much now as I did then. It has a slightly tougher, reggae feel, plus those superb strings. Jazzie B's vocals combined with the kids chanting 'What's the meaning, what's the meaning of life?' work brilliantly and you cannot beat the drop at 2.13, followed by Jazzie's conclusion- 'so there it is, work it out for yourself... be selective, be objective, be an asset to the collective...'. Good advice in general I think.
Get A Life (12" Mix)
3 comments:
Can't agree more SA. There's a sort of "utopian" quality to the aspirations of Soul II Soul in those first few years. It was fueled by a combination of sincerity, desire and massively good music. What a vehicle for social change music can be.
Sure the media blew the Soul II Soul collective out of proportion and maybe it fuel a few fragile egos which went into hyperdrive. But even Vol. III - Just Right has a few really special tracks on in the form of Move Any Mountain, Take Me Higher and Just Right. I know what I'm gonna be listening two for the next few days...
Oops, of course I meant Move Me No Mountain - Move Any Mountain is a whole other kettle of Ibiza fish...
You need to make room for the 12" of Keep On Moving
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