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Fantastic Review of U-Nam’s “The Love Vault” on the Wave.FM
U-Nam: The Love Vault
Fabulously funky. Hypnotically rhythmic. Soulfully Sophisticated. Those six powerful words alone could be the entire overview of this album. But that would be an injustice to the newest project from the genius guitarist, composer and producer U-Nam. Soaring from the success of his previous Billboard number 8 Smooth Jazz album Future Love, U-Nam picks up where he left off and continues the unfinished work of this album’s predecessor.
The Love Vault, due to be released October 11 on this own Skytown Records label, was born out of U-Nam’s vast collection of previously unpolished, unrecorded or archived songs in the musician’s extensive arsenal of music.
Amid his infectious guitar licks lies a hip and rich sound that is heavy on throwback funk influences. Sexy Fresh, the albums premiere release, emits a romance drenched vibe that is funky and alluring. Love Potion is an intoxicating concoction of guitar, unrelenting rhythm, and one of U-Nam’s signature arrangement sounds, synthesized string accompaniment, yet another trademark of the retro dance groove.
Applying the innovative technology of talk box and vocoder, U-Nam implements ‘vocals on a couple of tracks, including Back Seat Lover ( previously recorded by Mayer Hawthorne). Uptempo, happy and addictively appealing, this particular track rates among my favourite on The Love Vault, and the backing vocals of Gennine Francis-Jackson infuse some soulful dynamics and depth.
In what is an glaring tribute to the sound of soul music’s legendary love walrus, Barry White, Hear, My Dear draws from the title of Marvin Gaye’s late 70s hit Here My Dear. The amazingly talented saxophonist Magdalena Chovaancova fo the Euro jazz trio Threestyle lends her talent on this swagger filled groove accompanied by lush string arrangement and additional horn backing. Into The Night delivers an afterhours, fast moving cool drive down the strip on a summer night.
Among the many admirable techniques of U-Nam’s music is the meticulous arrangement and production expertise, and if my memory is correct, he ranks as the only artist I know that consistently employs strings and horn backing that delivers a multi layered and dimensional sound to his natural artistic brilliance.
The Love Vault is unlocked and fully unleashed with a sublimely polished groove, and a sound that is contagious and uncontainable.
Reviewed by Stu Berketo
On-air host.
https://wave.fm/index.php/album-reviews/363-wave-fave-u-nam-the-love-vault-future-love-part-2
New review of U-Nam’s “Love Vaut” on Smooth-Jazz.de
When it comes to his musical career, Paris born guitar virtuoso Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul has done everything right. Not only does he look back on a veritable number of his own productions, but he has recently helped a larger amount of musicians to their starting lords.The Love Vault (Future Love Part 2) is the continuation of his 2019 release Future Love a review of his personal development over the last few months. Some react to personal problems with passivity, while others, such as U-nam, plunge into exuberant activity.U-Nam performs on the new album guitars, Talk Box, Vocoder, bass, synth bass, keyboards, programming and editing. Additional musicians on selected tracks are Denis Benarrosh (percussion), Michael White, Fran Merante (drums), Bill Steinway (Fender Rhodes), Christian Martinez (trumpet & flugelhorn), Gennine Francis-Jackson (background vocals), Mattias Roos (Rhodes, piano), Darko Vlahovic (bass) and Magdalena Chovancova (sax, flute). U-Nam just starts with Love Potion which presents itself as one of the hippest tracks of this album. The rhythm guitar line fits perfectly with Nile Rodger’s style, who helped shape the music of the 90’s with his top hits.Where Does This Door Go is the third studio album by American singer Mayer Hawthorne. It was released on July 16, 2013, by Republic Records. Taken from this album is the song Back Seat Lover funkified and vocoderized with great support by Gennine Francis-Jackson on background vocals.With Sexy Fresh U-Nam wants to remain true to his musical roots that can be personalized with guitarist George Benson. The whole thing is perfectly Philadelphia solidified with background strings. You and Me (High Priority) delivers a mixture of Talk Box and Vocoder. To uncover parallels, one must go back far into the time of Gap Band and Cameo.Sharlee is U-Nam’s ode to his fictive daughter, that he eagerly desires. U-Nam is the proud father of two sons from his first marriage. Soul Walkin genially combines all the melody elements that have made the smooth jazz genre so popular. If you want to tie it to one piece of music, it’s George Benson’s Breezin’.On Into the Night U-Nam juggles with style elements of Nile Rodgers and George Benson according to the motto what Benson and Rodgers have forgotten and U-Nam is now catching up. I would like to see a little more stylistic independence from U-Nam. A good approach would be there Sunset Groove. Christian Martinez delivers with trumpet and flugelhorn an instrumental alternative.Celebrate Your Body is a disco mix by James Day, Sandra St. Victor, Mathias Roos and U-Nam released under JD’s Time Machine. Hear My Dear features Magdalena Chovancova on sax and flute. The song was originally recorded by Marvin Gaye who, at this stage of divorce from his wife, may well be considered a companion of U-Nam’s destiny. U-Nam attaches great importance to the fact that his version was inspired by Marvin but composed by himself. The album finally offers two bonus tracks of Love Potion (Dub Playalong Mix) and Sexy Fresh (Radio Edit). Those who adore the music of George Benson and Nile Rodgers will love U-Nam’s album The Love Vault (Future Love Part 2). U-Nam hasn’t developed stylistically with his previous albums, but remains with the musical elements that in his opinion seem most promising.
Biography
WebsiteBuy the album in all stores
Album Information
Title: The Love Vault (Future Love Part 2)
Artist: U-Nam
Year: 2019
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Label: Independent
Tracks:
1. Love Potion
2. Back Seat Lover
3. Sexy Fresh
4. You and Me (High Priority)
5. Sharlee
6. Soul Walkin
7. Into the Night
8. Sunset Groove
9. Celebrate Your Body feat. J.D’s Time Machine
10. Hear, My Dear feat. Magdalena Chovancova
11. Love Potion (Dub Playalong Mix)
12. Sexy Fresh (Radio Edit)
http://www.smooth-jazz.de/firstview/Unam/TheLoveVault.htm
Further reviews:
U-NAM – Back From The 80’sUnamityThe Early Tapes 94/95Weekend in L.A. (A Tribute To George Benson)Live @ Anthology [DVD]C’est Le FunkSurface LevelThe Essential CollectionFuture Love
1st review of U-Nam’s “Love Vault” on Soul&Jazz&Funk Website!
Doesn’t seem that long ago that we were enjoying a new album from soul/jazz guitarist EMMANUEL “U-NAM” ABITEBOUL. ‘Future Love’ was a classic guitar-led smooth jazz set and featured a new take on Luther Vandross’ ‘Get It Right’. That was followed by the single ‘Soul Walkin” – a jaunty foot tapper that had only been available on Japanese versions of ‘Future Love’. Demand, though, was such that U-Nam has decided to make’ Soul Walkin” a focus track on another new long player… ‘The Love Vault’. However, “new” isn’t quite the right adjective. You see most of the cuts come from U-Nam’s extensive archive (hence the album title) and he says that this has given him the opportunity to re-visit old friends and offer things that have been hidden away for far too long!
The album boasts plenty of tight soul grooves like the aforementioned ‘Soul Walkin”… things like ‘Love Potion’ but there’s plenty of variety. Amongst the highlights is a sweet ‘Sexy Fresh’ – a lush production that might call to mind some of Barry White’s work with Love Unlimited. ‘Hear My Dear’ (a nod to dear old Marvin) is another shimmering production with Magdalena Chovancova on saxes. There’s also a couple of vocoded items and you can also enjoy U-Nam’s recent high profile outing with James Day under the name JD’s Time Machine. The track, of course, is ‘Celebrate Your Body’ – a big summer tune and great to have it on ‘The Love Vault’ which is released on Skytown records on October 11th.
Last Updated on Friday, 04 October 2019 15:20
http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/6516-from-the-vault-with-love.html
J.D’s Time Machine reaches #8 on the UK Soul chart Top 10!
J.D’S TIME MACHINE makes a fast landing at #8 in the UK SOUL CHARTS TOP 10 with all 3 Hi-Voltage Mixes spinning out of control!!!
CELEBRATE YOUR BODY E.P featuring Sandra St. Victor, U-Nam, Chubb Rock, Tim Owens, Karen Bernod and Mattias Roos.
Available at Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, Google Play etc… on Skytown Records.
