One of the last albums to receive production input by the late great Turkish-American music mogul, Arif Mardin, was Raul Midon’s 2005 debut, ‘State Of Mind.’ Mardin, in fact, was responsible for signing Midon to EMI, having granted the blind New Mexico-born singer/songwriter a private audition. But despite Mardin’s unimpeachable record as regards discovering and nurturing new talent, I have to confess I wasn’t wholly convinced by the material and performances on Midon’s debut. Judging, however, from the hyperbole and acclaim heaped on Midon from some of the broadsheets, my dissenting voice was a lone one crying in the wilderness. And so to Midon’s sophomore opus, which retains the Mardin connection thanks to the input of the producer’s son, Joe. Given my previous encounter with the Afro-Argentine soul man, I wasn’t expecting my world to be set on fire or my mind to be blown. Indeed, as I anticipated, ‘A World Within A World’ still doesn’t convince me that Raul Midon is the next big thing but the album does have many fine moments and certainly engages me much more than its predecessor. ‘Pick Me Up’ is a breezy opener driven by acoustic guitar featuring some Soul II Soul-style string parts. With its storytelling lyrics, it’s reminiscent, perhaps, of Bill Withers (other commentators have even suggested Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder). The slower ‘Save My Life’ is more contemplative, while the upbeat but pensive ‘All The Answers’ – possibly the album’s best cut – finds Midon musing about the cyber age glut of online information. The a capella ‘Ain’t Happened Yet’ is an enjoyable, well-executed doo-wop inspired number that boasts some dense, Take 6-style harmonies while highlighting Midon’s vocal versatility. With its subject matter ranging from declarations of love to world peace and moments of deeper metaphysical contemplation, ‘A World Within A World’ is definitely a cut above your average Noughties soul and R&B album. Well worth investigating then – but don’t expect it to change your world.
(CW) 4/5
