From Oyster Music, the label that brought us Omar's Best By Far album in 2000, comes after some successful 12" releases the debut album of Shaun Escoffery (not related to the Escoffery sisters who had an album in the early 90ies on Atlantic records).
Shaun's music is definitely something different and a little hard to be pigeonholed. But then that's what Shaun Escoffery had in mind when he recorded his debut album. 'It's so easy for a young, black artist to be pigeonholed and given the soul/R&B tag' says Shaun, 'I won't be satisfied with that. Of course I have enormous love and respect for the soul/R&B and hip hop tradition, and all those amazing artists. But my influences and style aren't restricted - and neither will my music be.'
Most will be familiar with the singles Space Rider and Days Like This (the latter is featured here in the original version and the brilliant Spinna & Ticklah Mix) and it's various remixes that suited audiences from soul to R&B to garage/house. But there's more to expect from Shaun.
If you're the die-hard soul/garage fan like I am than it may take some time to get into Shaun's debut album. But since Shaun (co)-wrote all of the songs you know that's really himself behind his music. Song writing partners include amongst others the somehow overlooked Geoffrey Willams (whose album The Drop was equally musically diverse as Shaun's album but unfortunately it has sunk into oblivion), Marc Clair, Johnny Bull and Matti Schwartz.
The result is a pleasant mixture although there are some songs I'm having a little trouble with namely Ordinary Day and Hurts So Good with it's guitar driven chorus that drifts a little into rock/pop territory. But there are also the very good, heartfelt ballad Windows, the soul-meets-broken-beats song The Conversation Of The Heart and not to forget Give Everything with Ex-D-Influence's Sarah Ann Webb on background vocals. And of course we get Days Like This and Space Rider.
If you're taste in music is a little more adventurous and eclectic then that's the right album for you. And if you're more old-fashioned make sure to get the additional 12" single Urban Vinyl that contains 3 songs that are for some mysterious reasons are not featured on this album.