Unleashed - Album Review (CaribPlanet.com)

Unleashed - S. W. Storm

I was first introduced to S. W. Storm's music when his Groove Me video aired in the late 1990s. Since then, this very talented and versatile singer, song writer and performer has consistently produced dynamic, high quality music. Since releasing his debut album, Island Fury in 1997, S. W. Storm has continued to hone his skills while releasing a new album each year on his own record label, SWS Music. He has risen to the semi-finalist and finalist positions in several Soca Monarch and Chutney Soca Monarch competitions. Yet, even with all his accomplishments, S. W. Storm still has not received (in this writer's opinion) the level of recognition he so richly deserves. However, that could all change with Unleashed , the latest CD from the UK's leading soca artist.

Unleashed is a 16 track CD that includes 6 hot new tracks for 2004. The remaining 10 tracks are a collection of some of S. W. Storm's best work from the past 6 years. This CD could've been named The Best Of... or Greatest Hits . And great it is! Unleashed is easily one of the best CDs of 2004.
While maintaining an unmistakable soca sound, S. W. Strom incorporates elements of Indian/chutney, R&B, dance rhythms and a little reggae into his music. The album features some of soca music's best arrangers/producers including the legendary Nicolas Branker, Chris Allman, Darron Grant and $hel$hok. Back up singers include "the Queen of Soca" Alison Hinds, Flo PG, Gailaan and Derek Seales. The music is adventurous, seamlessly fusing genres into a picture perfect collage of the best in Caribbean music.

The opening track Trini Carnival sets the tone for the rest of the CD. After listening to no more than 10 seconds of this infectious tune you'll know you're in for a special treat. The feel-good lyrics of Trini Carnival will have you singing "I love mi soca, I love it, sweet soca music, I love it" while you "shake, shake, shake your body" to the pulsating soca rhythm. The interplay between musical instruments is done with skill and precision. The lead and background vocals blend perfectly. Exemplary in every way, Trini Carnival is the ideal example of the best in soca music.

If I had to pick one track as my favorite, it would definitely be Show Dem . In a word, WOW! Show Dem is simply phenomenal. Taken from his 2003 CD The Fusion , Show Dem is an innovative blend of genres, unique and of exceptional quality. Starting with its distinctive bhangra-soca-chutney-dance style opening Show Dem is in a class by itself. Not coming across as your typical fusion/crossover attempt, Show Dem perfectly melds diverse genres into a refreshingly "new" sound. It incorporates traditional East Indian instruments such as the sitar and tumbi into the mix and has both English and Indian vocals. Bold and daring, Show Dem takes you on a musical adventure that has to be heard (experienced) to be fully appreciated.

There are no weak tunes here, just the good stuff. However, there are some tracks that stand out from the crowd and deserve special mention. Included among them is the Indian flavored Bombay Girl . The music has a mysterious quality about it that you'll want to hear again and again. The sensual Luv up on me is an excellent song. What's not to love about this one? Another standout track is Sweet Swee t the name says it all. This one is a slice of musical nirvana that's oh so sweet, sweet. The instrumentation is superb. I especially like the steel pan and horn section. Finally, there's the R&B flavored Groove Me . This one's really nice.

With a variety of tempos and one-of-a-kind fusions, there's something here that's sure to please everyone. The CD demonstrates the creativity, versatility and depth of talent possessed by this rising superstar. Immensely talented, S. W. Storm has taken soca to a higher level. Anyone who wants quality music with lots of variety is sure to love Unleashed .

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