Album Review: Us3 - Questions (Us3)

Writer: Priscilla Owusu

After experiencing phenomenal success worldwide in 1994 with Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) taken from the multi million selling debut album Hand on the Torch, Us3 (the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson) is back with a fourth album entitled Questions.

This time round, Geoff has collaborated with two new vocalists - South African born (but London based) singer Mpho and Brooklyn native Reggi Wyns, to produce a very mature album of contemporary jazz-influenced urban sounds. With its beautiful fusions of Latin, RnB, acid jazz, African beats, hip hop and funk, ‘Questions’ is an eclectic mix of culture, genres and attitudes. The sweet and mellow sounds of sax, trumpet and piano weave their way through the background, wrapping themselves around fantastic uplifting lyrics that meander through global, social and personal issues.

Mpho’s contributions, Whatcha Gonna Do? and When She’s Dancing, both lend a contemporary RnB sound mixed with a Latin vibe and South American percussion, which may have you dancing or at the very least tapping your feet and swaying in time. While Believe in Yourself, featuring Reggi Wyns is a much more mellow and soulful sound with Us3 band member Mike Gorman on the piano. Reggi asks some deep questions about the meaning of peace amongst other things on What Does That Mean?, a moody bass-led groove complete with angular funky chords courtesy of guitarist Dave Okumu (of Jade Fox) and cuts on the turntables from DJ First Rate.

Also featured on the album are two remakes of the hit Cantaloop. The Soul Mix is a much slower, moodier version of the original, boasting a smooth new horn riff in the chorus and the piano sample being replaced by a warmer Fender Rhodes sound. Then there's the slightly faster Bossa Mix. Track highlights include the funky and uplifting When She’s Dancing and Get It Together. The Healer is a Fela Kuti inspired celebration of life featuring the Us3 horn section of Ed Jones and Chris Storr joined by Nigerian guitarist Femi Temowo, playing a George Benson-like guitar and scat solo.

All in all this collection holds just the right blend of everything to produce a very thoughtful and personal album, which may in itself provide answers to the questions it poses.

RELATED LINKS:

Us3 - official site



Buy US3's Questions album at Amazon UK (CD) | US (CD)




PUBLISHED: 20 November 2004

RELEASE DATE: 20 September 2004 (UK) | 20 September 2004 (US)

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