Brit soul fans of a certain vintage will have fond memories of the band, PARADISE. The main man was PHIL EDWARDS and, amongst others, the collective featured supreme soul stylist, Paul Johnson. Amongst their best loved songs is ‘One Mind Two Hearts’ (1983).
Since the band broke up, Phil has kept busy working with people like Gloria Gaynor, Mariah Carey, East 17, Gabrielle, All Saints, The Human League, Mica Paris and many more. Then a couple of years back Phil resurrected his Paradise project which he re-named PARADISE PROJEX. The band won plenty of praise for their 2021 EP and a series of acclaimed singles followed with the promise of a full album. Well, the album’s just been released and the music right across the 11 tracker matches the quality of the previous singles and that EP.
You’ll remember that ‘Magic Night’ was the lead single and it opens proceedings . It still sounds sweet and lovely with a gorgeous vocal from Judy La Rose who sadly passed away during sessions for the album. The other single, ‘Here And Now’ is also included in two mixes – the original and the “Magic Nite” mix that previously appeared on the Expansion Luxury Soul 2024 box set. The song actually goes back a way – it was written by Edwards and Paul Johnson and recorded with Paul on lead – but it was never released, sadly. The vocalist on this version is Charlotte Kelly (previously lead singer with Soul II Soul).
Apart from ‘Magic Night’ and ‘Here And Now’, the album offers plenty more gems. If you like to cut the occasional rug, then the LP’s title track will fit the bill. It’s a gentle little thing but crisp enough to get feet tapping, moving even. ‘Could It Be True’ is the one to get you moving though – bright and brassy – typical quality Brit soul.
‘I Am You’ delivers plenty of down time too. ‘G Love’ is a stark ballad; ‘Call Me By My Name’ is a lusher ballad; ‘Someone Like You’, though, not a ballad has an ethereal quality; maybe the big surprise is the cover of Bill Withers’ ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ – properly different. Then there are two oddities – though that’s not quite the right word. ‘It’s Up To You’ is a smooth jazz instrumental (with some cooed vocals). It’s melodic and laid back and recalls just a little the work of the Mizells and/or Rotary Connection. Then there’s the short (just 50 seconds), ‘The Prayer’ – which is just that – a prayer of thanksgiving,
Throughout the 11 cuts Edwards plays piano, drums and keyboards and he’s ably assisted by guitarists Doug Williams and Ollie Pickard, Karlos Edwards and Mark Dyer are on drums while Nichol Thompson delivers the horn parts. The vocalists are Everett Peters, Lee Callaghan, Emma M Callaghan and the aforementioned Charlotte Kelly and Judy La Rose. Marshalled by Phil Edwards, they’ve crafted a proper, classic, Brit soul album.
(BB) 4/5
