Four years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut "Connected," The Foreign Exchange returns with their sophomore set, "Leave It All Behind." Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The ... more »Foreign Exchange came together via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, "Connected," was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ's such as Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica. "Leave It All Behind" finds The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay has since become a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. The duo's second full-length is a dark, multilayered affair that features Phonte showcasing his abilities as an exceptional lead and harmony vocalist, while Nicolay extends his musical palette to include sprinklings of jazz, downtempo, and house. The lush, Darien Brockington-assisted "Take Off the Blues" picks up where Connected's sleeper hit "Come Around" left off, while the complex polyrhythms and dreamy synthesizers of "Sweeter Than You" are described by Phonte as "swing jazz for the next century." Marc Mac (of legendary UK production team 4hero), also contributes a string arrangement to the duo's glorious cover of Stevie Wonder's oft-forgotten 1991 gem, "If She Breaks Your Heart." In addition to appearances from longtime FE affiliates Darien Brockington and Yahzarah, the album also features guest shots from producer/keyboardist Zo! and vocalist Muhsinah.« less
Four years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut "Connected," The Foreign Exchange returns with their sophomore set, "Leave It All Behind." Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange came together via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, "Connected," was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ's such as Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica. "Leave It All Behind" finds The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay has since become a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. The duo's second full-length is a dark, multilayered affair that features Phonte showcasing his abilities as an exceptional lead and harmony vocalist, while Nicolay extends his musical palette to include sprinklings of jazz, downtempo, and house. The lush, Darien Brockington-assisted "Take Off the Blues" picks up where Connected's sleeper hit "Come Around" left off, while the complex polyrhythms and dreamy synthesizers of "Sweeter Than You" are described by Phonte as "swing jazz for the next century." Marc Mac (of legendary UK production team 4hero), also contributes a string arrangement to the duo's glorious cover of Stevie Wonder's oft-forgotten 1991 gem, "If She Breaks Your Heart." In addition to appearances from longtime FE affiliates Darien Brockington and Yahzarah, the album also features guest shots from producer/keyboardist Zo! and vocalist Muhsinah.
CD Reviews
Leave Your Preconceptions Behind
Thomas L. Strickland | Alpharetta, Georgia United States | 10/14/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Why limit yourself? That's the lesson of The Foreign Exchange.
Yes, Phonte is still the brilliant MC we've come to know and love from Little Brother. He's still half of the very talented retro-duo known as Zo! and Tigallo. And if you've not given ears to his occasional Gordon Gartrell Radio Podcasts, you're missing out on commentary that is at once insightful and hilarious, all set to the found beats of DJ Brainchild. This should be enough for any one man, but Phonte has talent to spare. Which brings us to The Foreign Exchange.
Connected was an initial step in a particular direction. Leave It All Behind is the logical next.
Phonte and Nicolay give themselves over entirely to the concept of Leave It All Behind. It feels like this dynamic duo surveyed the current landscape of R&B and found it wanting. Too much plastic, too much "Love In This Club" nonsense, too many unnecessary guest spots, and not enough of that human-to-human contact that used to be the total objective of old school R&B. Sensing this need for something honest and real, they created Leave It All Behind.
Did they succeed? Mostly. Admittedly, the strongest single is the album opener. "Daykeeper" works on the senses like the work Tricky used to do with Martina Topley-Bird, like something intoxicating and evolving. The rest of LIAB -- with the possible exception of the titular closer -- is best experienced as a whole, from beginning to end. After all, this is a journey. To enjoy it, you need only to come along, leaving your own preconceptions at the doorstep."
Probably the best R&B record of the year...sorry hip-hop hea
Scott Woods | Columbus, Ohio United States | 10/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In three words: buy it now.
This record is vastly different in concept and execution. Unlike some undertakings we could name, this one utilizes the skill set of the band (producer Nicolay and rapper-and-apparently-closet-singer Phonte of Little Brother).
The record is somehow both clearly a maturing marriage between the two talents that gave us the incredible mostly hip-hop affair "Connected" four years ago while being completely different from the first record.
Terence Howard stated in an interview focused on the release of his debut record that he was told that his record works because he went into the studio and no one told him what he shouldn't do. While Howard's record doesn't work under this premise at all, "Leave It All Behind" clearly does. Phonte isn't the best singer anyone could name but he sings and arranges in such a way that makes the songs completely his. It is the same phenomenon that Sade has built a career on, and the singer works his unique tone and solid arrangements to the record's advantage throughout.
With the mix of styles presented admirably by Nicolay there was a risk that the record would come off like an album of Prince Paul skits, but rest assured: both of these cats possess the chops and a clear ear for what works that this album is a genuine and serious contender for best R&B record of the year. Considering the field is littered with over-produced sound-a-likes that can barely manage an un-annoying single with no surprises and this record isn't, I feel very comfortable putting it on such a pedestal. The lyrical range of the record bears noting as well. At first glance it's a record full of love songs, and upon further investigation it still is. Yet, unlike much of the fodder of this genre in recent years, the subject of the music spreads wide on the subject, not content to simply say "I love you". There's the "Don't leave me" song, the "I got the couch" song, the "Baby Boy" song...it runs the gamut of a mature, full-fledged relationship without a nightclub or crass sexual reference in sight. It's an R&B record for grown folk.
If you liked "Connected" you may not like this record. It's not in the same genre as "Connected", so that's understandable. If, however, you like a good R&B record in the vein of Dwele or D'Angelo, and want something that radio isn't brave enough to run into the ground, this is the record for you. It isn't the record I thought it would be, but it is the record I was looking for even though I didn't know it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
"
Come A Little Closer
Stony | Upper Marlboro, MD | 11/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A fellow hip hop head told me about this album before I had a listen to it, his advice was to not bother because Phonte only raps on 2 songs. Well to say the least, I'm so glad I didn't listen and decided to make my own judgement. I didn't like the album at first with the exception of "Take off your Blues" but now that I've given it more ipod rotation, I can't stop listening to it. This album is so smooth and fresh- give it a chance and stop trying to make it live up to "Connected" after all, variety is the spice of life right?"
OK, so it's no "Connected"...
Matt | NJ | 10/16/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Upon first listen, anyone who loved "Connected", which I know many of us did, had to be a bit shocked by the stark difference in style of the album. It took me a few listens to get over this mental hurdle, but once over it, you find that this is a masterpiece of a different sort. The soundscapes that Nicolay creates on this album flow together, just as they did on Connected. This time the feeling is even more laid back, but just as inspiring and evocative. My favorites still tend toward the tracks that sound most similar to this duo's work together on Connected. Tracks like "Take Off the Blues" and "Something to Behold" present shades of that first beloved album, but I am coming to enjoy and appreciate the other tracks more with each listen. With the way Nicolay layers his tracks, it is very difficult to become bored when listening to this album (although it is VERY relaxing and soothing).
I am sure that Connected, being their original brainchild, will always be their most well-received and praised effort, but it is hard not to appreciate an album like "Leave It All Behind" for all that it offers in terms of pure creativity and soulful music.
I am officially STILL a huge Foreign Exchange fan."
The New Brown Sugar
Lawrence Smith | chicago | 10/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was going into this expecting to hear Phonte rap 1st & foremost! I'm a huge Little Brother fan secondly. Nicolay is was an average producer until he started to evolve because I really liked that beats on that Nicolay & Kay- Time: Line. On Little Brother's last album did anyone seem to notice Phonte seem sorta kinda bored & uninspired? In my opinion right now as far as new guys in rap go he's prolly the 3rd best rapper behind Lupe Fiasco & Median(from his own Justus League crew). Back to this album I want to stress Phonte is NO Andre 3000, meaning he can actually sing & hold a whole album down w/o any tricks. This album reminds me A lot of D'Angelo's Brown Sugar & also some of Amil Larrieauxs 1st album Infinite Possibilites. It's a 5 outta 5. As of right now Phonte is the 2nd best singer/rapper I've heard behind Lauren Hill of course. This album is Classic and shows Phonte's growth as a Human Being & Artist. He's very sincere & Intelligent here w/ Nicolay. He does the singing stuff better than most who do it full-time (I.e. R. Kelly, Beyonce, & Avant) & I don't think that's an over exaggeration! A must have for 08'. Nicolay Is a better R&B producer than Hip-Hop producer maybe that a lane he should drive in more often ."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1