One Step Forward

Les Nubians | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: March 25, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Higher Octave
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B00008KH91
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,231 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > International Rap

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After guest appearances on Guru and Talib Kweli, as well as the Red Hot + Riot collection, Les Nubians finally return with the follow-up to 1998’s Princesses Nubiennes, the most popular French language album stateside in more than a decade. One Step Forward has the same Sade-meets-Zap Mama soul groove vibe that sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart are known for, but the duo adds a few new wrinkles to the mix this time around. There’s a distinct reggae influence to songs "El Son Raggae" and "Brothers & Sisters," which features Morgan Heritage. Even though their voices are as sassy and sexy as ever, they sing a bit more in English, but French language gems "Amour A Mort" and "J’Veux D’la Musique," two of the album’s strongest tracks, need little translation. For the most part though, One Step Forward is more self assured and richly textured, nicely refining a winning formula that will no doubt enchant the many fans of its predecessor. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oui!, April 22, 2004

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Step Forward (Audio CD)

Les Nubians' "One Step Forward" is a gumbo mix of underground soul, funky jazz, and dashes of reggae--with a welcome French twist. Featuring the vocals of sisters Helene and Celia Faussart, the CD is a seductive journey through many moods and textures. I'll be the first to admit that my French has been rusty since high school (some songs have French lyrics, others in English), but that didn't stop me from appreciating this disc's many riches. The tracks "Brothers and Sisters" and "El Son Reggae" are lively and deeply rooted in old school reggae, and "Que le Mot Soit Perle" is a quietly elegant number that stands out mainly due to its welcome touches of acoustic guitar and light percussion. Other points of interest are the 8 minute closer, the pretty "Immortel Cheikh Anta Diop" and the laid-back groove of "Unfaithful/Si Infidele." While some may call "One Step Forward" an attempt to make the duo more "accessible" to American listeners, I did find it an overall solid effort. Tres bien!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Les Nubian & Higher Octave have done it again", March 25, 2003

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Step Forward (Audio CD)

Higher Octave offers a jazzy, sophisticated style blends R&B with French duos Helene and Celia Faussart known as Les Nubians. They offer a variety of songs that always take the listener into a hip-hop mixed with plenty of soul influence. Their latest release "One Step Forward", offers a variety of songs from smooth-jazz to French rapping. Their repertoire of African tunes, reggae, jazz, R&B and haunting original songs, plus their love for my of my all-time favorite vocalist Ella Fitzgerald (The First Lady of Song). This CD brings the same joy and entertainment as their previous release from Higher Octave "Princesses Nubiennes"...so it's no wonder that these pretty young ladies have another winner on their hands.

Total Time: 70:12 on 15 Tracks ~ Higher Octave 82569 ~ (3/25/2003)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Surprise!, November 22, 2003

By 

Desire "Desire" (Norcorss, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Step Forward (Audio CD)

This is one of my favorite CD's ever! Since buying Princesses Nubianns, their debut album, I was eagerly waiting for their second album to come out. I was not disappointed in One Step forward at all. It is refreshing and new, it will spice up anyone's collection and serves as a wonderful conversational piece. All of my friends were impressed. The CD has cuts in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. It has Hip-Hip like cuts, Congo sounding like cuts and reggae cuts; it is a very diverse CD. Talib Kweli is featured on "Temperature Rising" which is in English; this shows their diversity and the ease they feel mingling with Hip-Hop heads. One of my FAVORITES is #5 El Son Reggae; it is in French and maybe some Spanish. It has a Hip Hop & reggae beat and style to it...Slamming! #7 Brothers & Sisters has a Bob Marley type feel to it & it is uplifting and has a nice tempo, it is mainly in English w/some French Rapping...-Nice! But my favorite 2 hits on this CD are #13 & #14. Unfaithful/Si Infidele is a love song, reminds you of what Sade would sound like if she spoke French...Saravah is in Portuguese and is the reason why I love this Album so much! Saravah is Muito Mas Sexy! The man's voice in the background is very sexy and the song is wonderful. It is like Les Nubians are going back to explore their roots and they are taking their listeners along on the journey with them.
This CD is a definite addition to anyone's CD collection who loves international flavor...It has a little bit of everything for everyone.