U-Nam “Future Love” is the Wave.FM Fave. New Review

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U-Nam – Future Love

Posted by Riley Welch on 2019/03/11Category: Wave Fave

Normally when an artist of any medium draws from such personal downturns in life to express their inner feelings within their work, the result can be one of profound morosity and depression.  But then again, there’s never been anything ‘normal’ about French-born guitarist, composer, producer, and Skytown Records CEO genius U-Nam, and Future Love is definitive proof of that.

Laying the foundation for the project was a complex divorce from his musician wife late last year. But instead of a collection of songs of bitterness and inner reflection, U-Nam, aka Emmanuel Abeteboul deviated from the norm, and redirected any animosity into creative fuel that propels this superb album of 13 songs of entirely original material. Rhythmically captivating, with infectious guitar melodies are the centrepiece of every track Future Love, with rich and lush additional instrumentation from extraordinary accompanying talent. The first hint of brilliance came in late 2018 with the initial single “Is That So?”, a Wave Top 10 #1 hit brimming with funk and the rapid-fire airy and intoxicating flute melodies of his former wife. Flip ahead a few calendar pages to early 2019, and the full release of Future Love yields another stellar ultra melodic groove, the title track, which simmers with the accompany soul rich vocals of Tim ‘TiO’ Owens and Kim Chandler. By this time the album is instantaneously impacting smooth jazz charts nearly everywhere.

U-nam’s signature sound has long been defined by music that is not only uptempo and infectious but emotionally uplifting and positive, drawing from retro pop and funk influences of past decades. Future Lovecontinues that mantra and legacy. “Changes” is another beat-driven and unrelenting track on a project where nearly every song is produced with live drums from Fran Merante, as opposed to computer programmed, soul-less rhythm. Add the expertise of musicians Andrey Chmut, Mattias Roos, Valeriy Stepanov, Kim Hansen, Michael White and several other distinguished and meticulously vetterd guest artists, Future Love erupts into a stylish and uber chic assortment of hypnotic bliss. Synthesizer arrangements provides even more heightened dimensionality by delivering a vibrant and flowing a string section feel and sound at times, and additional horn section is only another stylish component of the album.

“Good Old Days” packs punch like a classic dance track and makes one reflective for the era of Nile Rogers and Chic when symphony and percussion were inextricable. A funky Latin rhythm and beat on “El Fuego” offers a brilliant cultural dynamic to Future Love, and also pays tribute to U-Nam’s Southern European ancestral roots. “A Change Of Heart” is dynamically sublime and rekindles ones memories of ‘80s Euro-dance and pop from the days of clubbing and buying 12 inch singles. 

Speaking of throwbacks, U-Nam breathes new life into a couple of classics, including Luther Vandross’ “Get It Right”, and again the backing vocals of Owens and Chandler are pure soul magnificence on this hip R’n’B track. And a cover of Deodato’s “Never Knew Love” (composed by Katrese and Jerry Barnes), shows U-Namis well schooled in the ‘old school’ era, again accompanied by Owens and Chandler.

I’ve had the personal good fortune of befriending U-Nam over the years, to the point where weekly e-chats to say ‘ hi’ or be privileged to get a sneak preview and offer feedback on another brilliant forthcoming project, so I inquired about how one could rise from personal turmoil to produce a full album that brims  with happiness and positivity.  He responded “The idea behind the album and especially the tittle “Future Love” was to try to turn all the negatives things that happened in my personal life in 2018 in a more positive way for the future and make some positive and uplifting music, there has been a lot of changes in my life, in many ways and some still ongoing but I want to focus on the future and leave the past behind.” 

The album was originally to be titled ‘Changes’, but even that was, as we say, subject to change.  As U-Nampointed out,” I changed it to “Future Love” to make a point! I’ve put as always all my heart and soul into it, even though this one resonates in a more personal way than some of my previous albums, but I’m very happy of the outcome and how people have already embraced it!” 

How could anyone not to want to embrace a future that is so musically sophisticated, inspiring and full of hope and happiness?

Reviewed by Stu Berketo

On-Air Host

Wave.fm 

New review of U-Nam “Future Love” on SoulJazzFunk.com

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LOOK TO THE FUTURE

Friday, 08 March 2019 13:38 Bill B

I first got to know about U-NAM (Emmanuel Abiteboul) when his jazzy guitar licks accompanied Phil Perry on the quite lovely ‘Right Here Right Now’ back in 2004. Since then, the guitar man has gone from strength to strength via a series of fine solo albums and big name collaborations. En route, he’s built up a steady and faithful coterie of fans and followers who’ll all be delighted with his latest album – ‘Future Love’ – a 15 track smooth jazz/groove-heavy collection.

That delight has already shown itself as the LP sits nicely at #20 in the Billboard Top25 Jazz Albums and little wonder … it’s stuffed with optimism and energy which anyone who knows anything of Emmanuel might find odd. You see, last year he went through a complex divorce that would leave most people emotionally drained and down. Not U-Nam. He sees the future stacked with opportunity – reflected in his new album’s title. The ‘Future Love’ track is as optimistic as the title implies; sound wise, it’s a classic guitar-led smooth jazz groove. And there are plenty more like it…. cuts like ‘Changes’ and the lovely ‘Good Old Days’ for starters. More intriguing is the electro flavoured ‘Change Of Heart’. Equally intriguing is the summery vibe of ‘Artbeat’ while the best Quiet Storm moment is ‘My Joy’.

As ever U-Nam offers some cover versions – two in fact. The first is a new take on Luther Vandross’ ‘Get It Right’ – real jazzy changes and vocal input from Tim Owns and Kim Chandler. They’re there too on a cover of Deodato’s 1984 ‘Never Knew Love’ – another album highlight.

Of course, comparison with George Benson is inevitable. However as Benson seems to be changing direction (his latest album is a tribute to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino), fans of jazz guitar will be well satisfied with what U-Nam offers so splendidly on ‘Future Love’. It’s out now on Skytown Records.

New review of “Future Love” on Soultracks.com

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U-Nam — Future Love

Events from the recent past served as inspiration for Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul’s new project, Future Love. That event is U-Nam’s divorce which occurred last year. However, the title and the upbeat tracks heard on Future Love endow the project with sense of forward-looking optimism even as the record’s production techniques draw their inspiration from 1970s and early 80s instrumental R&B and jazz fusion.

That’s not surprising. As is the case with much of U-Nam’s work, George Benson’s influence is palpable, particularly on “Changes” and “Is That So.” Both are upbeat numbers that place the spotlight on U-Nam’s soloing. These two tracks are a continuation of a welcome move to focus more or original compositions and to move toward arrangements that feature live drums and real rather than computer generated strings. Eleven of the 13 tracks are original compositions, with the exceptions being a funky cover of Luther Vandross’ “Get It Right,” and the breezy “Never Knew Love.”

The use of live strings on “Changes” connects that tune with the work that Benson did with Quincy Jones in the 1980s. “Is That So” finds U-Nam turning up the funk quotient through the use of a pumping bass line, as well as his energetic and creative soloing, while the laid-back “My Joy” has U-Nam showcasing his chops as both a blues guitarist and a jazz improvisor, while he and keyboardist Valeriy Stepanov end the track with a musical give and take.

The process of making Future Love was cathartic for U-Nam. You don’t go into a marriage expecting it to end in divorce, and there was probably enough pain to go around. However, if Future Love proves one thing, it’s that U-Nam know how to make something pretty good out of bad circumstances. Recommended.

By Howard Dukes

https://www.soultracks.com/album-review-u-nam-future-love