Search - Soulstance :: Act on

Soulstance's Second CD Spices Things Up

bordersj2 | Boston | 12/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As of right now, Soulstance, a group consisting of Vincenzo and Gianni Lo Greco, have 3 real releases: En Route, Act On, and Life Size. But they have 4 if you include their USA release titled "Truth, Simplicity & Love", which was more of a 'best of' album that pulled tracks off of "Act On" and their first album, "En Route". Soulstance hail on the Schema label along with Gerardo Frisina, Rosalia De Souza, S-Tone Inc, The Dining Rooms and even Nicola Conte, among others.



Soulstance's second album was IMO a very nice progression from the first. The style is similar to En Route in that the tunes are easy on the ears and very well crafted. It starts out magically, as if you are being awakened in the middle of the night in a "Blue Grassland", the flutes and keys are perfect. Then it follows up seamlessly into a Lalo Schifrin classic "The Aftermath of Love". But the biggest hits in this CD were "Kickin' Samba", a great song with big-band touches in the bridge. It has a loop that will make you smile, and this song featured in quite a few miscellaneous compilations, maybe even soundtracks, circa 2001. Another hit was "Mutantes", which had a great, funky vibe to it. I feel like I also have to mention the group's other inspiration behind their music - Antonio Carlos Jobim. Their song, dedicated to them, is really the same as "Wave". But it's smooth and it actually reminds me of Oscar Peterson's rendition.



I definitely recommend this to anyone that's collected "En Route". "Life Size", their album from 2003, has a very different feel from the duo's first two albums. It's more jazzier and in tune with what Schema's been doing these days with the evolution of their sound. So if you have "En Route" and enjoyed it, definitely give this one a listen. If you dig some of the vocal works on the cuts, maybe check out S-Tone Inc.'s tracks "Ainda Sonhar" and "Arejar". Especially the version of "Arejar" that was remixed by Soulstance - one of the best and most underrated remixes I've ever heard."