Taken To The Next Phase (Reconstructions) (Digi-Pak)
Key item features
Soul survivors The Isley Brothers are the subject of this latest tribute disc, a reconstruction of the classic funk tracks by the brotherly group as reinterpreted by today's hip-hop, club and turntable stars.
"Tell of Tales (Tell Me When You Need It Again)" from the Isley's album Showdown, is a series of smooth grooves and samples by Will.I.Am.
The super funky "Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1 & 2)" as done by Ignorants (who programmed all the instruments), featuring Duke Wun of Dead Rabbits, has the kind of hard bop rap you might've once heard from Slick Rick; it fuses nicely with Ronald Isley's original stone-soul vocal track.
"That Lady (Part 1 & 2)" is a radical reinterpretation of an Isley's classic by Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, delivered in chill-out, drum and bass style, while "Tonight is the Night" is left virtually untouched except for the futuristic blips and bleeps by remixer Stuart Matthewman.
"Summer Breeze," with Onda featuring Esthero, was the Isley-fied interpretation of the Seals and Crofts easy-rock '70s classic (also recently refashioned into a TV commercial). Nevertheless, this is pure soul, with the addition of Esthero's vocal giving it a sexy, feminine touch. "Footsteps in the Dark" is even slinkier in its fresh-new Gabriel Rene version. And the remixing by "Lenky" (with vocal by Tanya Stephens) on "Between the Sheets" lends an edginess to the song that is absolutely '00-fresh.
As is customary, the best is saved for last: "It's A New Thing (It's Your Thing)," a completely new rap to the tune of the super-funk classic "It's Your Thing," is delivered with fun and attitude by the warm and familiar voices of '90s hitmakers De La Soul. The Brothers' other chartbuster, "Harvest for the World," gets its snappy new bonus beats from Raphael Saadiq & Kelvin Wooton. And the soulful vocal and rap by Mos Def on the love song "Beauty in the Dark (Groove with You)" is, simply put, the loveliest track on the collection.
The Isley Brothers brand is timeless -- from their early rock and roll beginnings to their contemporary guise as soul patriarchs. Refreshed and remixed, the Isley's songs come across as soul classics -- just like the brothers themselves.
By Danielle Santiago
Specs
- Music genreR&B / Soul, Traditional R&B / Soul
- Has parental advisory labelN
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Product details
Soul survivors The Isley Brothers are the subject of this latest tribute disc, a reconstruction of the classic funk tracks by the brotherly group as reinterpreted by today's hip-hop, club and turntable stars.
"Tell of Tales (Tell Me When You Need It Again)" from the Isley's album Showdown, is a series of smooth grooves and samples by Will.I.Am.
The super funky "Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1 & 2)" as done by Ignorants (who programmed all the instruments), featuring Duke Wun of Dead Rabbits, has the kind of hard bop rap you might've once heard from Slick Rick; it fuses nicely with Ronald Isley's original stone-soul vocal track.
"That Lady (Part 1 & 2)" is a radical reinterpretation of an Isley's classic by Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, delivered in chill-out, drum and bass style, while "Tonight is the Night" is left virtually untouched except for the futuristic blips and bleeps by remixer Stuart Matthewman.
"Summer Breeze," with Onda featuring Esthero, was the Isley-fied interpretation of the Seals and Crofts easy-rock '70s classic (also recently refashioned into a TV commercial). Nevertheless, this is pure soul, with the addition of Esthero's vocal giving it a sexy, feminine touch. "Footsteps in the Dark" is even slinkier in its fresh-new Gabriel Rene version. And the remixing by "Lenky" (with vocal by Tanya Stephens) on "Between the Sheets" lends an edginess to the song that is absolutely '00-fresh.
As is customary, the best is saved for last: "It's A New Thing (It's Your Thing)," a completely new rap to the tune of the super-funk classic "It's Your Thing," is delivered with fun and attitude by the warm and familiar voices of '90s hitmakers De La Soul. The Brothers' other chartbuster, "Harvest for the World," gets its snappy new bonus beats from Raphael Saadiq & Kelvin Wooton. And the soulful vocal and rap by Mos Def on the love song "Beauty in the Dark (Groove with You)" is, simply put, the loveliest track on the collection.
The Isley Brothers brand is timeless -- from their early rock and roll beginnings to their contemporary guise as soul patriarchs. Refreshed and remixed, the Isley's songs come across as soul classics -- just like the brothers themselves.
By Danielle Santiago
