L.v. Johnson

We Belong Together

Release date: September 20, 2019

Label: Everland

A sacredly rare but utterly joyful example of lush soul pop that recalls the best songs of artists like Barry White. An entirely handcrafted piece of naturally happy music made for the cuddly moments of the day, but still with compositions that are lasting with the listener for a long time. A must have.L.V. Johnson was a very active composer, singer and instrumentalist since the early 70s and probably beyond but did only release his debut album at the ripe age of 35 in 1981. A soft and silky soul pop effort named Ã£We belong togetherÃ’ which goes up to 500 US$ when it could be found in mint condition. EVERLAND MUSIC, home of the greatest but most rare black music, have mercy on us and give us a nice reissue on black wax. The deeper, powerful voice of Mr. Johnson strongly reminds me of the also late Barry White but still the songs carry the sign of L.V. Johnson in every note played on this album. What we get here is soul music with a pop approach, clothed into several layers of silky sound arrangements with string section, horn section and some synthesizers giving this album a nearly symphonic expression. Beneath the surface we find an utterly precise rhythm section hammering a captivating, yet catchy groove. The album creates an atmosphere of utter joy and deep relaxation. Every song here feels so lightweight despite the depth of the actual composition and the intense emotions expressed through the very rich and fervently blared vocals. And as you will realize quickly, everything here is still handmade, crafted by utterly talented and professional musicians. The sound is perfect, it builds a closed up surface and while you can dig through it and discover all the little details in the depth of each song, it makes the composition appear in itÃ•s entirety and this is what you will first experience when you put this goodie on your turntable. Finally again one might say. All these songs here have this special factor that make them outstanding anthems of soul pop. As I mentioned before, this music will give you relief when you spin the record as it only expresses joy of life and shines in bright colours, while the songs are meant to be classics of their genre on par with the greatest hits that ever climbed up the pop charts. A perfect record to either listen to, or to play at a party as it will never get intrusive, but still lacks the superficiality of many pop productions. This is true music created with love and passion and if you love the softer side of soul music, like the band AIR or Barry White, you will find your personal Eldorado here. And now let me drift away peacefully and leave you with this gem on your turntable.

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20 September 2019 / More records