Customer Reviews

Born on the 24th of July

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tech-house music god, Charles Webster (of: Presence, Love From San Francisco, DJ Profile, and Furry Phreaks fame) delivers a late entry into the "best of year" catagory. For years, an underground dance-music guru, Webster has finally come into his own, surfacing at the top. This album is masterful, mature and subtle nuances rule. Expert minimalist instrumentation nudge each track along. As the music coasts and glides, the emphasis on the song becomes apparent. Every cut, it's own mystical journey into an electronic soundscape, hosted by the perfect, deft vocalist (the contributors include: Del St. Joseph, Sara Jay, Steve Edwards, Terra Deva, Xan, and Mark Sheridan). "Sweet Butterfly", "Forget the Past", and "I Understand You" are all classic material, but beware, there are no slouches. Elements of jazz and R&B help infuse flavor into a musical genre best termed "soul house". Selective, seductive, haunting, and poignant, BORN ON THE 24th OF JULY would best serve last night rendezvous, or just kicking back. When nothing else will do, this will do. Search out at all cost and treasure a secret shared.

For those familiar with Charles Webster's hauntingly beautiful work throughout the 1990s in the shape of Presence and others, this album will be a welcome and much-needed tonic against the recycled beats and more-is-better production that we're being inflicted with. It's a smoother rendition of the sounds we heard beginning to develop with the "White Powder EP," but with a sophistication that only time can add.

Webster puts together slow, atmospheric tracks using the simplest of elements - basic analog synth, 808 and 909 drums, and the generous application of reverbs and delays. He creates a magical landscape of lush, textured sound into which one can dive and be surrounded by a vibe like no other. Lyrics are edgy and poetic, brooding and intense, lifting the whole completely outside the realm of the ordinary. "Forget the past" is a haunting spoken-word track with 808 congas and a minimal driving bassline; "I'm falling" in line with its name drops the listener through a sea of sound with a delayed refrain outro that charms like few others.

This is the latest of late-night, the most classic of classic, the most vintage of vintage. Rarely have we seen the poetic and the mechanical meld so effortlessly into one. With most of the tracks at an unmixably slow pace, you will be forced to listen to the work as an album, linearly, and that is the only way to enjoy it.

Thank you, Mr. Webster, you've done it again.

What a totally pleasant shock! Charles Webster, long known for his deep house extravaganzas, makes his debut for US label, Statra, with this soulful, downtempo album that can appeal across the board. Webster uses his house background to lay down some deep grooves, while an array of guest vocalists, including the likes of Terra Deva, make this album the perfect late night lounging album. If you are fans of Massive Attack or Portishead, you MUST check out this album. And for those already on the Webster tip, this will be a refreshing surprise, and an instant "must have".

I bought this album on a Groove Salad-inspired whim. No regrets! Sweet Buterfly alone just fills my soul. Beautiful ambience, great to relax with a beer and just sigh it all away...

Charles Webster has put together a strong album here. I have to agree with the other reviewers' praise.
The sound is warm, peaceful, even understated. The listener is gently emersed in these beautiful patient beats. There's no adrenaline here, it's all dopamine. Impassioned lyrics are sung, never overbearing, often overwhelming.
As mentioned by other reviewers, the album has great consistency. From the first note to the last, the soundscape is alive, dynamic, interesting.
I've listened to this disc on a regular basis for the past 2 years and I always seem to get lost in the music, each time I put it on. How can I articulate this any better? The music creates a beautiful place to be.
My sincerest thanks to Charles Webster for making this album.

I have purchased many copies of this and his Presence- "All Systems Gone" album after having had to "borrow" it back from friends whom have taken it. The lyrical quality of the songs as well as the subtle layered sonic textures warrant repeated listens. Medatative and contemplative. The guest vocalists allow for each song to stand out individually. The track selection is reversed in tempo from his Presence 'All Systems Gone'this time starting ambient and acousticaly down beat and pickig up the pace. Nice vocals from Terra Deva who gets mildly Kate Bush on 'Ready'. Del St. Joseph and Presence regulars Steve Edwards and Sara Jay return as well. You won't be disappointed. Great for late night work in the studio, over some wine or even before going out.

Presence, Furry Freaks only begin the list of pseudonyms behind which CHARLES WEBSTER has
operated as one of the most prolific House producer of the last decade. BORN...retains all of the
valor of previous productions, but the approach is decisively more on songwritting than beat
construction. Sometimes R&B, sometimes alternative, featured vocalist include Del St-Joseph,
Steve Edwards and Massive Attack's Sara Jay. The rhythms are slow, the mood sultry and the
vibe intoxicating. In this beautiful after-hours soundtrack, CHARLES WEBSTER makes the
connection and places heart and soul at the core of his music.

This is an excellent album to chill to. Very unique. Deep and mellow. I'm surprised I'm the first to review it. There is a place in everyone's collection for this album. Hope you enjoy it.

This is the first Charles Webster CD that I have purchased but it will not be my last. What a wonderful collection of tunes: not too hard and not too soft. My favorite is "I understand you", what a great tune. If you like chill out music and groups like Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation or Tosca then this CD is for you.

Charles Webster sets a tone with this album that is both listenable and refreshing. He manages to hit a uniquely cool groove from the very first song & sustains it through the whole album. Well done!