Born in Nottingham, in the heart of England, Charles
Webster moved to the U.S. after working with such luminaries
as Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. Mastermind
behind Presence’s 1999 superb All Systems Gone,
Webster has also released music under a variety of pseudonyms
(Furry Freaks, Love From San Francisco) and his work
as a record producer gained him considerable respect
and recognition. He now steps into the light with Born
On The 24th Of July.
Originally released through Statra in the U.S. in June
2001, this album finally gets a UK release, thanks to
the good people at Peacefrog. Blending influences ranging
from soulful electronic to deep house, Webster brings
on board some of his usual collaborators, including
Sara Jay, who, apart from appearing on All Systems
Gone, also featured on Massive
Attack’s Mezzanine,
as well as Steve Edwards, Terra Deva or Peter Wraight.
The album kicks off with a beautiful chilled peace of
beat-less breathy folk electronica and features Del
St Joseph on vocal duties. Sweet Butterfly,
definitely one of the standout moments on here, is a
fresh and well-produced piece, which combines a minimum
of refined electronic sounds and an acoustic guitar.
This track very much sets up the standards for the rest
of Born On The 24th Of July, in term of structure.
The melody is simple and effective, the lyrics heartfelt.
Del St Joseph also contributes to the deep house
I Understand You and I’m Falling,
two more upbeat songs that nevertheless display the
same reserve as Sweet Butterfly. Elsewhere,
Mark Sheridan or Lisa Lindley bring a more soul/R’n’B
touch to Webster’s evocative atmospheres, on Be
No-One and The Gift Of Freedom respectively.
Charles provides in each case a sensual backdrop for
his performers, avoiding obvious clichés or reference
to opt for a more subtle approach, based on lush instrumentation.
A same attitude to Forget The Past, sung by
Sara Jay, is equally successful, although the sensual
element is mostly contained in Jay’s whispered vocals.
Other highlights on this album include Fox Soup,
a wonderfully chilled instrumental moment, complete
with piano and trumpet, and Your Life, featuring
Mark Sheridan on vocals.
For this first album under his name, Charles Webster
offers a series of beautiful songs, cleverly put together.
Born On The 24th Of July reflects Webster’s
talent as a producer, and demonstrates that he can find
the best vocalists and collaborators to open his music
to new grounds.
5/5 |
