Review Of The Rural’s “Rural Soul”

Album: Rural Soul

Description: A soultry, nujazz, compilation of the very best of 16 years of the deep house sounds and a few new releases. The band is lead by DJ Andy Compton, with Marie ‘Tweek’ and a slew of other electic musicians. The talented base crew all from Devon, U. K. includes Saxophonist, Charlie Hearnshaw; Bass Player, Pete “Gurner” Middleton and Producer/Mixer, Bazil, a well known England DJ. The Rurals are often joined by other musicians on their label, Peng which released most of their recordings over the past decade.

geegee’s Review:

It started to thunderstorm as the first, a new track, “Save It” started to play. My original plan was to listen while I cleaned the house but by the time “So Sexy” came on I could no long ignore my background music- I had to sit down, light some candles and soak it all in.
The lyrics seemed to speak to me and say all the things I’d been feeling as I’d just ended a long term relationship. “Missing You” and “Ways to Love” (Emotional Feelings, 2003) took me there, and I fell in love with this cd!
Slowly I moved to the instrumental “Liquid” (10th Chapter, 2008) then got lost in the rifs of “Charlie Plays” (Messages, 2004). Soon after, up tempo tunes like “Just Fine and “Get it Right” started to thump from Nettle Soul, 2006, which reminded me of the bliss of a new relationship, when your heart is racing and you just can’t get enough.

I closed my eyes and thought of loves past, present and hopefully in my future as I swayed my hips to the deep house rhythms of “Fender Songs and “I’ve Travelled”.  My ears were soothed to “Pleading With You” and “Relax Your Soul” and immediately felt calm and at peace, like a bittersweet love affair.

This album took me all the way to midnight as the rain fell during “Smokey Jam” (The Rural Life, 2005) and the saxophone lulled me to sleep in “Fallin.”  This collection takes the listener thru 16 years of a melodic relationship with a band that fits so well together. Each song is a perfect balance of jazz, funk, house and soul.

4 Gees up! Definitely a “MUST add’ to your collection!