Featuring ten tracks there is a mixture of ballads and stepping in the name of love dance grooves, if that is your musical bag then like The System ‘This Is For You’. Modern day contemporary soul artists Raheem Devaughn and Musiq Soulchild exercise their smooth and soothing vocals on some glorious string arrangements via ‘Love Jones’ and ‘Nobody Does It’ for the steppers. Christie Michelle gives a slinky vocal performance on a seductive bump and grind produced ‘Ebony’, followed by an equally sensual bedroom and enticing bedroom ballad ‘For Sure’ delivered with passion by Jackie Michaels. Bringing that classic Screaming Jay Hawkins/ Nina Simone haunting piano and doo-wop ‘I Put A Spell On You’ vibe, with some powerful gospel background vocals Angie Fisher bellows a commanding vocal delivery on ‘IRS’. Representing the UK the unmistakable voice of Marsha Ambrosius assisted by just piano breathes her trademark zephyr vocals on an exquisite and spine tingling ballad ‘Wash My Hand’. What’s great about this CD is the crystal production of clarity that allows tracks like Chaz Shepard’s ‘Get You Girl’ to ooze some of that 70s Curtis Mayfield salacious ‘Let’s Do It Again’ to penetrate the soul within. It’s quite an interesting paring between MC Lyte and Dave Hollister, which of all the album steppers makes ‘Steppin 2 Lyte’ my pinnacle choice. Concluding the steppers contribution to this soundtrack the synergy between Raheem Devaughn and Jamecia Bennett on ‘Need To Know’ sets the perfect tone as an anthem for a soul food gathering on a summers day BBQ. To close O.N.E. does a short acapella ‘Trail Of Songs’ reminding me in parts of having a jazzy female Gregory Porter style of production leaving you wanting to hear more. Surprisingly I preferred the ballads as opposed to the steppers dance cuts but it’s a quality album for those who like it smooth and mellow.

www.thesoulsurvivorsmagazine.co.uk