FELTON PILATE: – Nothing But Love Spoken Here Nothing But Love Spoken Here – Leading Different Lives – Devotion – In Time – Takin’ It From The Top – Only For You – Watch You – Keepin’ You To Your Promise – Yours For Life – Be My Baby – Always Come Back To You - Nothing But Love Spoken Here (US Remix #1) - Nothing But Love Spoken Here (Euro Remix) - Nothing But Love Spoken Here (US remix #2 feat ERA)
(US Felstar, 2005)
If you love sensuous, bedroom styled traditional soul balladry then "Nothing But Love Spoken
Here" will be a definite must for your collection. The album itself, if we take it in
its entirety is somewhat of a disappointment, but its highlights definitely demand
attention from lovers of what I call beautiful music, and connoisseurs.
We all know this man from his work with Confunkshun, but we also have to look at
his writing and production work that followed the demise of this great group.
Felton Pilate worked with a group called Special Generation back in the early
90s, and contributed a number of fine tracks on that album. The new album is exactly
in that vein, so I suppose some would say that compared to some R&B sets today it is
dated. Whatever. The album does have an early 90s feel about it, so if that’s a plus
for you as it is me, then great.
Many tracks on here fall into the sugary ballad basket, and this is where many downtempo
tracks can fall on their proverbials. The crowning glory of this set for me is the title
song. I was smitten with this as soon as I heard it, and it definitely rates as one of
THE tracks of 2004. This is a classic, traditional soul ballad that is so lacking at
the moment, even in quality circles. Whether this be the product of a sadly bygone age,
I cannot really say. It just appeals to me big time. "Nothing But Love Spoken Here"
is sexy, sensuous and is as velvety as it comes. Some will not warm to the very brief
Ernie Isley-ish guitar moment some two-and-a-half minutes in, but I am rather
akin to that anyway so no complaints here. This song renders the album as an essential
purchase. CD Baby has a great sample on their site so you check this out for yourself.
There are 3 remixes of this song at the tail end of the CD. I wouldn’t bother if I were you!
Jumping a few sugary tracks, I recommend the excellent late 80s sounding ballad
"In Time" which should also get your soulful juices flowing. "Taking It From The Top"
again seeks out an early 90s groove and the Soul To Soul feel finds an echo here.
Dated but very nice notwithstanding. I can almost hear Al Johnson doing this song,
and I guess any of the more uptempo numbers from his "My Heart Is An Open Book"
set would fare well as a comparison.
Be careful when you reach "Only For You". It promises to be sugary enough to be
diabetic making but miss this at your peril. It certainly has none of that trapping
and is in fact a smouldering ballad duet with Janice-Marie Johnson from 70s group,
A Taste Of Honey. This rather bashful, unassuming number has some devastatingly
soulful chord changes and the overall arrangement is nothing but class.
"Watch You" is more chunkier and firmer. It has a solid foundation to work on, and
Felton’s voice shows no sign of having deteriorated over the years. I like the soaring,
icy synth and the funky guitar work. I had forgotten that he had penned "Keeping You
To Your Promise" for the Stylistics on their essential "Love Is Back In Style"
set a decade ago. His own reading is musically in the same vein but this song was meant
for the great Russell Thompkins Jr. Felton does not fit well on this track and
for me it fails.
The rest of the CD is pleasant, and certainly listenable, but it is rather weak and
I get the feeling that a lot more creative effort went into tracks such as the set’s title.
Overall, I would rather have a set like this any day than a lot of what is on the market
today. Please do not overlook this album. They’re a dying breed.
- Barry Towler
