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The Fusion - review ( Soca News ) 2003
This is the CD that marks SW Storm's maturity.It is by far the best album that he has released to date and fully justifies the faith that long-time Storm-watchers have had in the man. He has come up with an album that not only contains no duff tracks - quite a rarity from any artiste - but also lives up to its very risky title. "Fusion" or "crossover" is all too often a polite way of saying pastiche - something that merely apes another style of music without fully understanding its subtleties. The result is invariably unconvincing and unsatisfying;at best it may be an amusing gimmick. Alternatively,"crossover" can try to be all things to all men,but ends up being a bland musical mish-mash that,like airline food, has no flavour at all. Most tediously of all,the fusion artiste may strive so earnestly for authenticity that he or she produces something that's as dull as ditch-water - the kind of album you struggle to play once. There's no danger of putting this CD on a single spin-cycle,however. The first track,"Show Dem", with its bhangra-style opening, is crossover/fusion at its very best,seamlessly melding Indian, European and Caribbean musical ingredients,successfully retaining all their individual flavours while creating something new. In "luv ya long time" its meant to be Chinese thats in the mix - although admittedly it still tastes more of masala than soy sauce. All the same its a tasty Track. For something meatier,you can try "Poom Poom",which is a great,catchy party tune,or the up-tempo jump-up number"Frenzy". After that,cool it down with a smooth,sweet Atlantik-style desert like "Only You" or the ever popular"Sweet Sweet". And for the real smoochy,after-dinner coffee and mint phase of the evening,turn on "Do it for the love". There are ten tracks plus a couple of versions on the menu,so no soca-fan need go hungry. Just be thankful that SW Storm became a musician rather than a chef,because a CD is a lot cheaper than a meal at a classy restaurant,and the pleasure lasts a lot longer too! ------Stephen Sparks------- Courtesy of Soca News
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