Solar House - Magic Of the City (LARCD-005)
Breaking out of Glasgow, Solar House makes its highly anticipated
album debut with Magic Of The City. This is a sophisticated
release that combines elements of Nu-Jazz, House, Trip Hop, Disco
and Soul to create a smooth and sensual musical backdrop for modern
urban living. The hit track Got 2 B U (featured on Naked
Music's Nude Dimensions 2 and Café Del Mar's Chill House
2) is here as well as the latin-house smash Universal (currently
licensed to MTV - The Real World). Vocalist Angie Reid's
dreamy soprano, reminiscent of Billie Holiday, floats over producer/keyboardist
Calum Walker's rhodes-heavy riffs on tracks such as Rescue
Me and the title track Magic Of The City. Trip Hop fans
won't be disappointed either as Don't Pass Me By gives a
raw, gritty downtempo flavor. This is a terrific release for fans
of Zero 7, St. Germain, and Naked Music.
Orion Ray-Jones | Big Shot Magazine | Premier Issue
Calum Walker's Glasgow-based collective brings a healthy dose of
jazz to their house, downtempo and future soul. The expertly crafted
dreamy chords, heartfelt vocals and dubby baselines provide
the foundation of this emotionally intense album. A few of these
songs have been gracing dancefloors and lounges for some time, and
the new tracks nicely complete the album, making it perfect for
showing off your musical sophistication to friends. (4 stars)
Darren Wall | DMC UK February24th, 2003
Whether it's something in the water, or it's all that
Irn Bru, there's definitely something about Scotland and turning
out deep soulful club sounds. After previous involvement with
Fresh & Low, and a slew of single releases for Large as Solar House,
Calum Walker's full length album debut is positively over-flowing
with jazzy sounds and stylish rhythms, picking up where the classic
'Got 2 B U' left off, and building on that vibe even further.
The lush 'Rescue Me' opens the album, a late night
house sound benefiting from the emotive vocals of Angie Reid. 'Don't
Pass Me By' is a whimsical, downbeat jazz-funk piece, displaying
Walker's musical background, and - to it's credit - is
what makes the album more appealing than most. Musically,
it's equally at home providing seductive deep house like 'Universal'
or 'Power Of Sound', or funky nu-jazz such as the title
cut or 'Paradise'. Thoroughly addictive urban
sounds. (4.5 out of 5 stars)
Phil Collins | In the Mix - Australia
Breaking out of Glasgow, Calum Walker has been traversing the house
scene since for a number of years now collaborating with David Robertson
as Fresh and Low. Among other releases, Fresh and Low are
most famous for the Wind on Water EP, considered by many to be a
deep house classic. When Calum and David became involved with Large
Records in 1999 (legendary US house label), they formed Solar
House.
The sound of Solar House can be described as deep house, with its
roots firmly planted in funk and a stoned-out take on jazz. They
blend in elements of latin house, trip hop, disco and soul creating
a smooth and sensual deep lounge landscape. Solar House's tracks
features various vocalists one of which is Angie Reid who offers
a dreamy soprano, reminiscent of Billie Holliday. The group tends
to use vocals to add to the texture of the sound without dominating
it, avoiding the cheesiness that can result from house overly dominated
by vocals.
Universal, is an excellent example of Solar House's use
of funk and jazz to produce an infectious groove. The group injects
chords into the mix that are extremely catchy and instantly feel
familiar. This track features on Germany's Compost Records' Future
Sounds of Jazz 7.
Power of Sound, stands out for me as a brilliant deep house
track. For me good deep house takes the listener right out of their
head and this track does just that. The bongos and bass line drive
an infectious groove, while samples of birds are layered subtly
layered over luscious chords taking the listener into a wild party
going on deep inside a rainforest.
Solar House give Paradise a loungey disco feel with uplifting
sustained chords played over a funky bass line. This track showcases
the groups' bottomless well of creativity as the track takes on
an almost improv jazz structure with novel instrumental lines drifting
in and out of the scene. I found it easy here to imagine I was way
down under the sea smoking cigars with a pink octopus wearing purple
tentacle socks laden with gleaming rhinestones and sitting with
much confidence (maybe that was an image better kept to myself!).
Groove Me has a more up-tempo beat featuring vocals ranging
from deep Barry White-esque to the flighty and loungy. The title
track offers a busier acoustic jazz feel with Angie Reid providing
her gorgeous, uplifting vocals. Rescue Me has a more mellow
ambient funk while Don't Pass Me By is a great example of
the group's balance between acoustic and electronic sounds.
Overall "Magic of The City" is surprisingly consistent,
with each track offering novelty and its own unique feel. The result
is an infectious sound that will win over many hearts. I anticipate
that this album will be one of the most well received deep house
releases this year.
Wiseblood | M8 Magazine (April 2003)
This is Glaswegian Calum Walker's debut album - hard to believe
as he has been carrying the torch for deep house for years. But
what a delight it is! While rounding up some of his previous work
for Chi-town label Large, (including the huge 'Got 2 B U') there's
a plethora of new jams too. Just check the sumptuous title track,
rolling out the jazz riddim and bass under the smokey vocal, picking
up a house groove and just rocking the spot with consummate ease.
A definite contender for my album of the year, beautifully written
and produced and reeking of soul - destined to fire this producer
into the big league, surely. (8 out of 8)
Cal Gibson | Muzik (April 2003)
What is it that links Glasgae and Chitown? While fellow Scot, Paul
'Deep Sensation' Hunter has had a long standing dalliance with Guidance,
Calum Walker's Solar House project has for a good while now been
backed by Chicago's other quintessential deep house label, Large.
'Magic of the City' is as poised and articulate as an evening in
with Noam Chomsky. From old twelves like 'Got 2 B U' and 'Universal'
to the Rhodes-fuelled funk of the title cut and 'Paradise', it's
a mature, crafted swing through bar-friendly moods and grooves that
will sound particularly sweet come the summer months. Less cunty
than David Blaine and not as bald as Paul Daniels: that's the magic
of the city. (4 out of 5)
Mark Moore | Blues & Soul (#888 25 February 2003)
Hailing from Glasgow, this is Solar House's debut album produced
by Callum Walker. There are nine quality genre defying cuts blending
influences from disco, house, trip hop, soul and nu-jazz. "Magic
Of The City" opens with the deep house jam "Rescue Me" featuring
Angela Reid, next up is their classic hit "Got 2 B U" with its live
funky bassline and satisfying deep house vibe. The quality continues
through the title track marrying the stunning vocal of Angela Reid
with horn riffs and deep chords. "Paradise" has a funky flange guitar
laid over a deep groove while "Power of Sound" is a melodious and
subtle Latin based track with minimal percussion. This is magic
Paul Daniels would be proud of. No wonder Solar House have been
instrumental in shaping the sound of artists like Miguel Migs, Joe
Claussell and Julius Papp. (4 out of 5)
For Your Eyes And Ears Only...
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