Customer Reviews

Illusion

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As most musicians know, the road to stardom is not paved with gold, it's paved with struggle: struggle with your label, with your bandmates, with trying to "make it". Few San Francisco have fought harder for success than this Om Records music collective. You know the best thing? You can't hear the fight in their music. You hear smoothness. If Portishead and Sade had children, they might sound something like Soulstice.

This album is perfect for those mellow Sunday

evenings, and that lazy weekend wake-up when you wish you could just stay in bed all day, lying in your lover's embrace. Carefully walking a middle road between their diverse musical influences that range from Soul to Drum & Bass, lead singer Gina Rene kills us softly with her song on beautiful tracks like 'Fall Into You' and 'Surrender'.

It's hard these days to get tuned into music like this. Most of the time great new bands like Soulstice go unheard of for years and only if "popular radio stations" play them do they ever get out to the masses. A great chill out and late night cruise cd, Soulstice has an excellent balance of positive blues grooves and vocals. Providing not only memerable sounds and lyrics, this album gives the listener a constant flow of tracks which keep very well in line with each other. If you are someone looking for new sounds or just in need of a great kick back cd this is a great buy. Hitting the repeat button on the cd player will definately occur once you listen to this disc.

I listen to old school hip-hop, R&B, Contemporary jazz and electronic Jazz. All I know is... If you could picture a younger Sade as a white chick who hungout with skateboarder kids...you would arrive at Soulstice. Laid back. I am feelin' this album. Do ya thang Soulstice!

Favorite Tracks: "Fall into you", "Illusion", and "Tenderly"

In a time when most modern music tends to show one-dimensional strength, here is a ensemble that reflects a beautiful melange of a silky soulful voice, lullaby lyrics reminiscent of the song writers of more than a generation ago, jazz-focused instrumentals and trip-hop electronics. I hope this work is representational of the future movement in music. Play it loud on your headphones or car or see them live. And, to top it off, these people are so very real...Enjoy and keep your eye on them!

IT'S GOOD MUSIC!!! that's all you need to be concern with. Personaly, I think she did justice to the remake of Nat King Coles song "Tenderly". Nice grooves, tight beats and excellent production. It needs to grow on me a liitle more. I haven't really given it a chance. Hell, I can't get past the 1st track without repeating it. The last track "Changes" has got to be one the best drum & bass tracks I've heard this year. My quest for SOMETHING DIFFERENT has expanded my music library to the wildest of genres and this one fits perfectly in my pile of sweet ear candy.

oNe

Soulstice is an excellent group of musicians. The songwriting and production on "Illusion" are virtually flawless and will appeal to those who like trip-hop and downtempo lounge. I also liked how they used a variety of sonic flavors: drum and bass effects, lounge rhythms, and acoustic instruments to add dimension to their material. The vocals are a plus.

As impressed as I was with the album, I found the performances, particularly the vocals, to be somewhat narrow in emotional range and rather stiff. It isn't until "Surrender" - half-way through the album - that I felt the group loosening up a bit. The second half of the album really benefits from this, as the material varies more. All the songs are good, but I find I quit listening to the CD after a couple songs, rather than letting it play on.

However, like I said, Soulstice is a talented group, and I would be very interested to see if they expand their sound on future releases. The remix of "The Reason" in the Om Lounge series suggests their remix album might be a good listen, and I have a feeling Soulstice would be great live.

PS: Don't miss the hidden track at the end of "Changes". It's a harrowing, spooky song with a Portishead feel.

I hadn't heard much by this outfit when I picked this cd up. I had heard something by them once before, I believe on one of the Mushroom Jazz cd's, but I can't be sure.

At any rate, I saw that these guys are on the OM label, and that sealed the deal with me. Most anything on the OM label is amazing, whether it be an outfit like this one, or the hip-hop People Under the Stairs. If it's on OM (as with the ESL, Compost, and Ubiquity label), chances are, it's gold.

This is a very good release. Very smooth vibes, very Theivery Corporation-esqe, with the honey-sweet smooth vocals of Gina Rene. She sounds similar to Bebel Gilberto...very soft, very feminine, very sexy.

Get this cd now, and you will enjoy it immensely. Then, when the hype hits, you can say that you had it "ages" ago.

Ahh, Soulstice. Get ready to surrender to Soulstice. If you are a lover of trip-hop, down beats, and slick production styles, this is your group. I know one thing for sure, they are going to be one of my favorites if they keep making stuff like this. And it is one the greatest debut albums I have ever heard. My five favorites in order are: 1)"Fall Into You."
One of the most achingly heart renching songs I have heard.
You will love this group after listening to this song. 2)"Lovely"
The silky, satin production is incredible. Then on top of that, the positive message the song portrays just clenches the brilliance of the group. 3)"Surrender". Pretty much an instrumental song with occasional vocal loops thrown in. Great.
4)"The Reason". Starts acoustic, then turns into a light techno feeling song. 5)"Not Alone". Great song with nice switches in styles. This was a hard album to just pick five great songs. The album is a must have in your collection. And I am definetly looking for the sophomore album.

Soulstice has taken beat-headz music to the next level. With the most sensual and sexy female vocalist I have EVER heard, and with Andy Caldwell behind the boards, Soulstice is the music of the 21st century. Soothe your soul and do your ears a favor.

What a great debut from Soulstice! It's a shame that not many people have even heard of them.
Sometimes I wonder why electronic music isn't as widely accepted as music such as Hip-Hop and pop. Oh well, that's their loss! This CD is full of soul, joy and reflection. Gina's voice fits these songs so perfectly, you'll know it was meant to be! My favorite song is "Fall into you", also "Tenderly" is a heart moving song. I can't forget "Surrender" and "The Reason". These songs describe how I feel on the inside. In "Surrender", I would to Gina. After this enticing and classy song is done with you. Oh Gina, I love your voice and you're beautiful as well! I can't wait to hear more from Soulstice! Too bad they won't be visiting Chicago, since they're out in San Fran....