SOUL IMMIGRANTS - A Healthy Vibe

LIP-HOT 8947-2

The group was founded in 1992 by singer/guitarist/composer Emrys Baird, bassist Andrew Kremer, drummer Steve Taylor, guitarist Brian Neil with indian/UK-producer Nitin Sawhne.
Like "Jamiroquai" and "Incognito" the group tries to make their own original, but intelligent pop music build on a fundament of soul, funk - and their ethnic roots (most members are from an half-foreign background with roots in the middle east or India.
Since then the group has developed and occassionaly was strengthened by other members from the UK-studio szene. One permanent guest and member is rapper JC001 (who was awarded the title "fastest rapper worldwide" in the "Guiness Book Of Records" 1992 and has recorded albums with George Clinton and "Killing Joke" a.o.)

The bandmembers have continuosly worked with other projects too - including "Brand New Heavies" and james Brown's former horn section "J.B.Horns" - and Nitin Sawhney has developed into one of the most established remixers in London. He also was the guitarist of the James Taylor Quartett for several years and has recorded two solo albums so far.

Praise for the album:

• "..somewhere between Incognito and Jamiroquai .. "Tension In The City" is an exiting tale of urban violence and drug dealings .. "Earls Tribute" cuts the mustard with trip-hoppish backbeat and georgeous spanish guitar ... (DJ Magazine, London)
• "..positively funky vibes .. songs are unpretentious.." (Straight No Chaser)
• "..impressive debut .. more than a great Jazz-Funk band .. a great album from a promising band .." (Jazz On CD)

Songs and sound examples:

1. Should I Hold Out
2. Tribe Of Love (great brittish soul, reminiscend of the group "Love & Money")
3. Just Another Wasted Live
4. Tension In The City (Soul with sarkastic raps and hypnotic groove, 40 KB realaudio-sound with rap)
5. Transforming Me
6. High On Love (funky with rap, realaudio sound with both Rap and vocals, about 50 KB)
7. Keep On Strivin (beautiful melodie with a slight country-touch, Realaudio-sound of about 30 KB)
8. Half The World
9. Warming Up
10. Earls Tribute

Musicians on the album:

• Emrys Baird - vocals, guitars
• Brian Neil - guitars, backing vocals
• Mike Parlett - alto sax, WX-7
• Ted Emmett - trumpet
• Paul Clements - keyboards
• Andrew Cremer - bass, congas, keyboards, backing vocals
• Nitin Sawhney - keyboards, guitar tracks on 4 & 5
• "Soul Sister" Yvonne Webley - vocals track 10
• Josie Frater - bakcing vocals track 2
• Phil Poppy - tenor sax on tracks 3,6,7
• Roger Beaujolais - vibes
• Melissa bel - vocals track 6
• JC 001 - rap vocals tracks 4 & 6
• Matt Hooper - guest bassist on "High On Love" and "Tension In The City"

Cover Design: Knut Schötteldreier

Current group members:

• Emrys Baird - lead vocals, guitar
• Brian Neal - guitar, vocals
• Mike Parlett - saxes, flute, wind synth
• Phil Grosso - keyboards
• Mat Hector - drums
• Matt Hooper - bass
• JC001 -guest rapper

Lyrics:

Should I Hold Out

Should I hold out for love?
Should my heart rule my mind?
Should I learn to trust myself
Should I quit while I'm ahead
Is there loving in my eyes?
Or is it just a sweet disguise?
Everyone of us can act
A simple honest fact

Should I hold out for love

(repeated with variations, then:)

I think I know the answer.

Tension In The City

• Is this a pretty city ever so goddamn nice
• If you've got the gift of the gab you pay the price
• If you've got no cash and never had a credit card
• Then life old homeboy is gonna be so very hard
• Then you comprehend a wish I wanted to send
• You couldn't comprehend nothing you make a blend
• Fighting every day to put the money away you comprehend
• nothing I have to say.
•  
• Lack of principles? I've got my poverty
• Nobody want's to listen to my words not me!
• I'm on the street on the level but the devilnever knew
• Ain't got no money ? I never had nothing to pity you
• Never had the tax couldn't have paid it back
• Don't really matter cos I couldn't afford the fax
• No phone couldn't afford the call
• It doesn't matter - watch me crawling of the wall..
•  
• Another cash crisis - No!
• Life is you ought to listen to the mission
• I'm given to understand I've got to make
• a little earning but no one will demand
• that I could get listened to I guess
• You could say you've got the vision too
• United stand comprehend what
• I'm saying then you've got an empty wallet
• Now you comprehend what I'm saying!
• No money no way - you can't compete
• Just another week - cannot survive
• the nine to five by taking a dive , we'll
• have to strive and make a high earning
• But I'm learning to be burned
• It doesn#t matter cos I guess I've already learned
•  
• You can go the whole world
• But then it comes clear
• Welcome to the welfare
• - Yo! Brother, can you spare me a dime?
• Yo! Man you gotta couple of quid?
• I mean, I just need my fair home
• No pity on another one from cardboard city
• (Cop voice:) You can#t sleep here - move along
• Yo! Man, I just need somewhere to bed down, man
• (Cop voice:) Move your bottle and your ass!
• Just another day living without giving back
• Doesn't matter to me 'cos I I've got another attack
• of the poverty inflicting it's pain
• on my wallet. What? It doesn#t matter cos you
• know what ? I ain#t got every two weeks
• in fine I've gotta sign on the line
• and now , matter , cos youknowthe repeat is mine
• I paid the tax but no one paid it back to me.
• Mow I'm living back down town in poverty
• Fine time to construct a rhyme - Y I understand it
• No money there - take it for granted
• Ain't saying I'm poor - but when they
• repossesed the house they charged me!
• I've got a cup of soup on loan from the salvation army