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The soulful, soulful house on “Affirmation” makes me expect to hear Isaac Hayes’ voice come rumbling in with his whiskey seduction. Mid-tempo grooves thrive with energy but without being pushy while a groovy, it’s-all-good yet seductive attitude prevails. This is the kind of music that’ll lead from the bar to the dance floor and back home to the bedroom and velvet, velvety sheets … Retro stylings are cropping up everywhere, and the electronic dance genre is no exception. Not to mention the fact that this is doubly backward-looking in perspective. On the one hand, the music is strongly influenced by the soul song of the 70s. Like I said, Isaac Hayes. Of course, at one point I also detected some of the quirky 70s prog of Supertramp moving along; probably it was the keyboards that got me on that one. Mostly it’s the soul thing, which, of course, is the very thing that drives good house music. Oh, yeah, I was telling you about TWO ways this looks backward. Besides the referencing of 70s soul pop, etc., “Affirmation” also recalls the roots of the house genre, bringing to mind the early garage sound with its chilled but energy touched carryaway ability. Luscious and blending thickness and spaciousness, this is a fine CD to carry you deep into the night and the promise it bears. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
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