Brown Sugar

by

D'Angelo

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Minister's son, Michael D'Angelo Archer really made a massive impact with his organic soulful sound on this his 1995 debut.

Making his name on "U Will Know" (Which he co-wrote and co-produced) with Black Men United the talented, multi-instrumetalist Richmond VA native made his own muse apparent here. Instead of following the mainstream definitons of what "R&B" had come to define, D took it all the way back. He clearly is a true lover of peak era soul music, wearing influences like Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Prince on his sleeve. This can be observed right down to a superlative, chilled cover of Smokey Robinson's classic "Cruisin'".

That song is a true highlight and was a single release. As was the anthemic title track, which is a head nodding, drugs/female double entendre (Not unlike The Rolling Stones did with same title 25 years previously) opening, which incoroporates Mr Archer's hip-hop generation roots.

The album has a laid back, jazzy vibe throughout and the Raphael Saadiq co-produced ode to his woman "Lady" exemplifies this.

There isn't a weak song to be found but other favourites of mine include the brooding ...and gospel soaked closing number "Higher". "Dreamin' Eyes" was a worthy single release as well.

D'Angelo took a five year break before his next album but the influence of this album endured all the while and proved one of the main catalysts in the genre the media came to know as "neo soul", although beyond categorisation, this album is just superb music.

Check out the "Live At Jazz Cafe, London" Japanese import CD too for the live experience.

Nobody would ever accuse D'Angelo of going anywhere in a hurry. Believe me, Brown Sugar owes nothing to the Rolling Stones except the shared title, and while the Stones' song invoked images of sexual enslavement, D'Angelo's version is purely consensual. The title is song is slow and blistering, and it establishes the pace for the entire album. Each song moves at the speed of slow sex, which makes it fairly impressive accompaniment for same. Out of the bedroom, though, this collection can get pretty tedious.

Brown Sugar is less a collection of songs than an assemblage of sexy, slow jams with hypnotic, heavy grooves. Each track sits in its own pocket and stays there; chord changes and melody are minimal. In their place is a seductive vibe that holds steady while D'Angelo styles in a free-form falsetto that is more than a little reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. The production is slick and full of space without distracting from the libido-driven topicality of each song. "Jonz in My Bonz," "Smooth" and "Higher" all convey the full content of their message in the title. Dropped in the middle of this collection is a good cover version of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'," which although good, doesn't offer much to justify the remake. All things being equal, I'd just as soon hear Smokey sing it, but thanks anyway. Brown Sugar works like an aphrodisiac if you're with somebody and the lights are already down low, but if you're alone, it works more like Sominex. B Tom Ryan