A near-perfect example of soft, RnB-tinged neo-soul.
Aijuswanaseing was 23-year-old keyboard player and vocalist Taalib Johnson’s debut album as Musiq Soulchild. Released at the tail end of 2000, it immediately struck a chord with its sensual jams and often heartfelt pleas for love and understanding. Signed to Def Soul, the album was executive produced by A Touch of Jazz Productions, aka Jeff Townes, Soulchild’s fellow Philadelphian Jazzy Jeff.
It’s a smooth, soporific listen that often sounds as if it was made in 1970 rather than 2000. Samples are utilised in a most understated manner – Bobby Hebb’s classic Sunny is the reference running down the spine of Just Friends (Sunny) but you’d never really know, as Soulchild and his producers Ivan ‘Orthodox’ Barias and Carvin Haggins create a beatbox and electric piano-driven love song.
Lees de rest van deze review op BBC CD recensies (Engels)
Bron: BBC Music