Soul Express CD Review LEON WARE Love's DrippinUS Kitchen, 2003All Around The World – Underneath Your Sweetness – Saveur – Breath On Me – Is It Drippin’ On Yourself – I’m Ooin’ You Tonight – Seriously Nasty – Finger Party – Hands On My Heart – Let Go I start by making a rather strong statement. Leon Ware is a creative genius. I do not use that word lightly, as you well know. This man with a stroke of his pen and a spark of imagination has a profound affect upon these ears and this heart and soul – I know others close to me who feel the same. Not unlike the gentle flap of the butterfly’s wing which, somewhere, somewhen causes a hurricane, Leon’s gentle, sultry whispersome vocals and haunting melodies are so gentle, sensual, sexual certainly, and are inspiring and they create a massive effect on listeners all over the world in a very heartfelt way. Look at the love and affection for his back catalogue and his productions spanning over 30 years. How many can claim this sort of power? Not many. Who can come a million miles close to the most gorgeous lyrics of "Deeper Than Love" and "Candlelight"? Just listen to the lyrics of those songs – we are talking genius here. Nothing and no one on earth can equal the power of these songs. Indeed I rate this man higher than the Cole Porters, the Gershwins and many of the greats in this world. Great as they are, their music does not reach me as deeply as this man, and it is a real joy to receive this new CD from the man himself. As I have said before, "Deeper Than Love" has to be the most exquisite piece of music ever recorded. Today it still makes me well up to hear it. In an era when much music is so violent in construction and content, Leon’s music still champions the important things in life - love, joy, happiness and contentment, all delivered with style, grace and melody. Already a Ware classic, "Love’s Drippin’" is a definite inclusion into my end of year top 10 without a doubt. Expansion, I hope, are picking up on this later in the year, but being the fan I am I could not wait for a copy. The title song is a piece of heaven itself and I have equal praises to heap on the rest of the CD. "All Around The World" is a splendid piece of midtempo action that would not be too much out of place on his "Inside Is Love" set. The racy yet sensual "Underneath Your Sweetness" is extremely good, as is the Wah-Wah Ragin guitar laced funker "Saveur" which is surprisingly fresh with an elemental house type beat underpinning the eerie synth line that we can only expect from the gentleman. The moody "Breath On Me" is another cracking inclusion leading into the beautiful "I’m Ooin’ You Tonight" which is very 80s in orientation featuring the yearning vocal sounds of a young lady called Simone Howe. Leon, I would LOVE to meet this lady! "Seriously Nasty" is not the track I expected, instead is a very mellow acoustic number, which is very infectious … and features the delightful Simone again! A live feel leads us into the naughtily titled "Finger Party" – A smashingly erotic track thanks to a sublime sexy groove and some more sexy noises courtesy of my friend (I wish!) Simone again! Of course, I have no idea what party they are alluding to, although I certainly cannot hear the pouring of tea and the clatter of cups and saucers! We come more down to earth with the gorgeous "Hands On My Heart" with its beautiful lyrics and keyboard work courtesy of musical supremo Wayne Linsey. To finish the album off is a different version of his 2001 classic, "Let Go"; still jazzy and still as tasty as the original. Indeed, if that was the original! As far as quality goes I expected nothing less than this from the man. He certainly has not disappointed. I hope that this soon gets its UK release, and that Mr. Ware gets straight back into the kitchen to create some more nourishing soul food . My appetite has just been wet. And don’t forget Simone either! Rating 10 / 10 - Barry Towler Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 Other CD
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