Beautiful Tomorrow

by

Blue Six

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I pre-ordered this CD and I have to say it was worth the wait. I first heard of Blue 6, who is Jay Denes, when they released the single "Sweeter Love." The sweet vocal line and smooth, sexy house tracks really set me into a relaxed state. Then came Bare Essentials, Vol I, and I fell in love instantaneously with not only Blue Six, but the whole label and the artists represented on the compilation (Naked Music). Come to find, Mr Denes is the founder of the label. If you want to hear more about this amazing composer, check their website - ... The music is very relaxing, but still holds on to a house groove that is exciting enough to keep your attention. Chill or downtempo could be used to describe the sound, I suppose, but that would be misleading. Soulful, smooth, amazingly talented vocalists are possibly the best attribute. No Mariah vocal gymnastics here. A straightforward and pure sound is what Mr Denes employs. Lisa Shaw should be a household name before the second half of this decade comes. The music is electronic, house, jazz - all rolled into an accessible collective. Flutes decorate the reflective "Music and Wine." Acoustic guitar and a strong bass drum support the inspirational "Pure" - the best track on the CD.

Many tracks have been released on vinyl, and many a DJ will know of this group already. You can find the "Sweeter Love" CD5 listed in Amazon's catalog. What and how future tracks will be released makes me curious. "Pure" and most of these tracks could and should find commercial success, but it ("Pure") has been released on vinyl already, not accessible to the Common Joe. With my passion for this music, I have remixes of five of these tracks. I ordered this CD already loving half of this CD (there are a couple dub versions - of "Pure" and "Music and Wine"). The other tracks I had knowledge of are the originally syncopated "Love Yourself" (a mix can be found on the 3rd Naked Music mix compilation) and "Let's Do It Together," which is the first single to be released with the album. "Close to Home," "All I Need," and "Beautiful Tomorrow" have already grabbed my attention, as well a dub of "Grace" - which makes me anxious to hear what the original would sound like.

Thematically, this album is about self-love, as well as relationships, growing up, and optimism for the future. Couple this with 1) amazing real (flute, guitar, et al)+ electronic instrumentation and 2) smooth, well-trained vocalists and you have one amazing composition that only furthers the dance genre into a more developed artform that music lovers of any genre can appreciate. I have studied music from age nine all the way up to the masters level and I give this work my full recomendation. This CD can help you reflect; to come to understand and appreciate the simple things in life we often loose track of; to quote "Pure:"

"Look at me I'm pure; everything that I am I adore; it's the reason that life is for; it's my heart that I need to be sure; keep it pure...what you love at the root, at the core - keep it pure"

i bought this CD based on the other amazon reviews posted here; let me just say that it's the only time in probably eight purchases that the reviews let me down. i expected it to be electronic, a bit trancy and coolly mellow to listen to. it is mellow, but in an 80s kind of way. the music is pretty boring and predictable and the lyrics are just kind of trite and uninspired. i really don't like the main vocalist's voice either. as far as my comparison to 80s sound goes, i'm not sure why, but i kept expecting to hear stevie wonder sing accompaniment or something.

just for a base of comparison, i absolutely love zero7 "simple things", massive attack (especially "mezzanine"), portishead, radiohead, everything but the girl and theivery corporation. i bought this at the same time as "richest man in babylon" and that was by far the CD i preferred. two stars. i'll probably sell it to a used CD shop.