It's quite fast that Oyster Music comes up with a remix album of some of Shaun Escoffery's songs from his debut album that was only released at the end of 2002. Like I've supposed on my review for the Let It Go 12" there's finally an album being released with some of the remixes on it that's already have been available before as a 12" release and some new versions.
The album starts with the fine Jazzanova remix of Let It Go, that gives the song a wider house/lounge appeal.
There's another version of Let It Go by 4 Hero & Jason Rebello, which is purely instrumental and creates a tension with some electronic effects and some more organic and warm Fender Rhodes. A very good rework although I'd have loved to hear Shaun vocals on top of that.
Into The Blue is also available in two mixes. The first was done by Mark de Clive-Lowe and gives this song a great modern London soul feeling. The second mix was done by 4 Hero again and is more an electro influenced version and like their remix for Let It Go it's minus Shaun's vocals.
Breaking Away in its Koop remix is a real pleasant surprise. Koop turns this song into a swinging, late night jazz inspired song together with a fine saxophone. One of the highlights for me on this album.
Toshio Matsuura has remixed Conversations Of The Heart and turned it into an uptempo, somehow flamenco-influenced version that really adds new dimension to this song.
Of course this album wouldn't have been complete without a remix of Shaun's most successful releases Space Rider and Days Like This. Space Rider is featured in a remix version by DJ Spinna and another by Peter Kruder (of Kruder & Dorfmeister fame), the first is a beautiful piece of modern soul the latter is a slow example of lounge-like music.
The DJ Spinna remix of Days Like This has become something of a modern classic and I'm sure most of you are familiar with this version. Still sounds great to my ears.
Last but not least there's DJ Cam's rework of Give Everything that gives the song a nice soul/R&B feeling but lacks something for me compared to the other remixes here.
Soulonica is all in all a very good album and if you thought the original album was a little bit too eclectic for your taste, then you should listen to the remixes here.