Free For Variety
This, as the late radio programmer Frankie Crocker would say, has all the makings of sureshot, pick-hit music. Free by Lisa Shaw is an album that has the meat with three bonafide dance tracks, and the goods represented by Lisa’s versatility put to the mat with her easy, cozy ballads. Like the first song, “Better Days”, which I thought might be a Chaka Khan remake at first, thankfully turned-out to be an original. Next is “Honey” which reminds of a female vocal version of Maxwell’s “Ascension” in pace, style and framing; a song that a radio announcer might describe as “today’s R& B...”
The Beat Kicks Up In the Middle of the Album
The uptempo jams begin with track four which pumps “Like I Want” them to. Lisa and her production crew of Dave Warrin, Tim Kvabosky and Miguel Migs definitely understand how true House music, in the ilk of the late Larry Levan, should sound, and I present “All Night High” as exhibit “A” for “as proof “of my hands-down favorite track, and the smoka “Can You See Him” as exhibit “B” for Be sure to get off your seat to its dancing beat. The funky “Feel” is an ending to a set or the night music; a good salutation song, and maybe should have been repositioned at the end of the album as it is preceded by a groovy “The Music In You”, and then followed by my aforementioned favorite cut.
A Change In Directions
Then the LP takes a different direction, and “I’m Okay” is the harbinger of the Sade` sound to come with an easy skankin’ “Inside My Love” in-between. “Tomorrow” nibbles at, if not outright biting our not heard from in a long time, dame crooner of the smooth operator; it begs the query, why hasn’t she ever come out with some House music? It really is an incredible likeness, and I’m not mad at Lisa Shaw on this one either.
Overall
There is no need to be too harsh, snobby or overly analyze via labels like the oft used “downtempo” (whatever THAT means) here. This album has the mature sound of how club music has evolved, and its track progression is pleasurable without wanton through excessive over use of one thing or another irritability demerits. The one curve ball is the Sade` sounding cut; it makes me ask “why” she did that one, and will she impersonate Helen Adu in the future? Whether she does or not; whether you want to shake-a-leg or lounge-out, you will have your spring fever tweaked if you fertilize your being with this four star musik.
Released March 2009 on Salted Music.
