As the curtain goes up, you hear the wayward sound of a distant horn in the theme music; almost exactly recreated is the "chug-a-lug" of its steel wheels on the title track, a third rail of musical motion starring the featured female conductor. This must be a freight job, for if it is not then hobos are in some of the box cars as stowaways among the "Illegal Cargo." This is Slow Train Soul [Tommy Boy TB-1584-2], a bunch of smooth funky grooves from the airy vocals of Lady Z and modern synthetic programming orchestration by Morten Varano, both of London, England who coupled-up as co-engineers on this locomotive of sound. All aboard and watch the closing doors.
Now we enter the tunnel "In The Black Of Night"; 'Bright white light up ahead/screamin sirens that I dread/No one but me to be/witness to this tragedy/...I heard em shoutin' murdaah..." This imagery paints a picture of golden neon amidst crucial smooth bass beats.
What is kind of amazing about this music is that, so far as I can tell, it is from the mind of just these two people; only additional musicians are percussionists Federeco Portelli and Vezio Bacci, and trumpeter Kasper Tranberg shoveling coal into the fire.
On the jazzy "Naturally," Morten's vocals are especially Boy George-ish, as they often are throughout the album. This is a good thing, by the way. "Track eight, "Inna City Woman," features a familiar George Benson-type guitar riff that makes the cut as it keeps chiming in.
As you come from sleep at the "Trail of Dawn," your writer/brakeman's favorite joint of selections, the slightly reggaemeniscent rhythms reinforce the promise of each new day – "oh yeah!" as they say.
Next stop, it is the last track as we reach the end of the line, a reprise of "Illegal Cargo"; I love the theme and passenger, not to worry because you can caboose and press 'repeat play' and journey all over again – tickets please. The only drawback is that the ride was a little too short; I'll validate your reservation as I set up vintage Lionels with five stars because it's good listening whether you are on holiday or safe at the crib. Woo-wooo!
