Potentially confusing going by the cover, this is a two-album set: a reissue of
Freeez
's first album and a set of new recordings from founding leader
John Rocca
(helped by musicians including a couple of his nephews). The first LP,
Southern Freeez
-- released on
Rocca
's label in 1980 and picked up by
Beggars Banquet
early the next year -- became a touchstone of Brit-funk and the U.K. soul scene at large. It's highlighted by the number-eight hit title song, a wistful roller fronted by
Ingrid Mansfield Allman
(just before she released material written and most likely produced by
Ian Dury
and
Chaz Jankel
). There's another charting single with the
-fronted "Flying High" (number 35), which isn't a
Blackbyrds
cover but is certainly in the same jazz-funk spirit. The similarly uplifting "Mariposa" and "Sunset," along with the flashier and more fusion-inspired "Easy on the Onions" (down to the fusion-y title), add depth to the singles, comparable to fellow U.K. bands like
Incognito
,
Linx
, and
Level 42
as well as
George Duke
's Brazilian-flavored material of the same era. The second half of the package leads with a lively version of "Southern Freeez."
's voice has deepened somewhat since it was last heard but still has a boyishly sweet quality. Like that update, the originals that follow integrate some organic house and sunny downtempo stylings with
's roots. ("Simple Breeez" might even have an intentional nod to
the Crusaders
' "A Ballad for Joe.") It's gratifying to hear
back at it, if only in a temporary fashion, 40 years after his debut and almost three decades since he left the biz for more lucrative work in telecommunications. ~ Andy Kellman