I’m late, about ten minutes, but I was right to think that the listening wouldn’t begin on time. Just arrived in the previously indicated street, I see a few persons, they seem to wait the doors to open. To introduce myself , I ask “ Is it closed ?“ “ No, it’s no smoking inside...”

I give my invitation to a young lady, she checks my name. The listening takes place in a beautiful loft, well taken care. Down the stairs, very few people are there, I’m pretty surprised... The huggest pillows I’ve ever seen are spread on the floor. A big screen offers The Black sweat and Beautiful vids... in a unfinished sample with no sound. A Bose system is installed with sub basses and high/medium speakers. The 3121 will play here with a soft saturation that will give the impression to hear something like a great quality rough demo. Indeed, the record with soft saturation.

There is some great food and champagne (while we dine) . The french service staff is nice.
Just 3 meters to the speakers is a big sofa, I’ll will soon take my place here to fully appreciate the holy graal Please understand this is a one and only listening, so I may change my mind on songs when I get the record.

Some french fans are here discussing, with the sheer energy of excitation. I see the US Staff, I walk towards them and begin a cool chat. One is the representative for Universal / Motown in the US, the women represents NPG and own the holy copy, she’s pretty distant, colder than him. They’ ve been to Sydney two days ago, and Tokyo yesterday, they’re pretty tired. I think to myself “ They miss a com with a french dude”

3121

Far away to me , the best track, really. Uncommercial , repetitive track. Hip hop feel, jazzy and dark, with strange pitched voices. Something like Camille is mixing Days of Wild and Rainbow children. Would have been a great track for a new full in the vein of the Black album, underground music. A really catchy but uncommercial promising introduction to the album.

Lolita

A repetitive track not far way to Cinnamon girl to me , but less rock. A proeminent synth theme gives the way to a Pop song in the vein of early english bands.

Tac

U know the deal. The most “ fm” track of the lp. I take a glass and begin a new chat with the generous cool guy of Motown. “ I met Stevie, I was really impressed, what can I say, this is Stevie Wonder !”

Black sweat

"Workin' up a Black sweat " ! I really dig this Electrofunk tune. Hot and sexy, compressed and scary. One thing is as I heard the end of TAC, I was sure this one was going to be the following ( I didn’t have the chance to get the tracklist b4 the listening though)

I don’t want to all night

Lost my notes for a while, sorry. I remember a mid tempo track with modern vocoder on vocals, same that u can hear in Britney or Kylie biggest hits. I’ll be chilling around...

Love is forever

Lost my notes, see Raphy’s review :
http://pabwschkopi.nuxit....php?t=7680

I’ll update the whole thing in a few days.

Satisfied

See Raphy’s review.

Fury

U know about the quality of this one. This studio version has not the guitars to the fore. It’s less rock than on the tv shows. A cool version though but I would say a bit less catchy ( I’ll have 2 listen 2 this one again) Anyway, Hendrix would have been into it a lot. 4 sure, U know it’s a smash hit in our faces from the first notes !

Let’s do something

A mid tempo track with acoustic guitars to the fore. Some modern filter on vocals again. I remember a final with percussions only.

Beautiful, loved and blessed

U know this great song, this is pure R’N’B smash hit that will hit radio stations for sure. Not sure it will be a single here in France, but this would make Prince the master on the map again !!!

The Dance

A darker different version of the early available track. Not that impressive as far as I remember.

Get on the boat

A killer ending ! Sounds something like Calhoun Square to me with drums up to the fore. Great hornz, percussions to the fore too. A killer chorus by Maceo !!! Will make a great live jam !

No ghost track for the moment !!!

To sum up, I was really impressed by the opening and the final tracks, yeah !

Now let’s wait...

While waiting go and listen 2 "le sillon du funk" and some great french funk tunes @t

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/m...u-funk.htm
_____
www.ma-gloove.com

French uncut funk 4 party people

" Wash this dancefloor b4 we all drown !!! "
[Edited 2/16/06 17:05pm]

Great!!

Vocoders and filters on his voice. I'm not sure what to think about that. I'm a bit worried about what you had to say about 'Fury'. Perhaps SNL will prove to be the definitive version after all. Interesting.

Thanks for taking the time to post. You're lucky to have heard it.

As with any Prince album you got to give it a few listens before judging, so that's what i'll do.

Tricky, vavoom or whoever the hell wrote it up.....: your killing me.

You listen to this all and all you have are two sentence reviews. Booooo.

and next time don't forget your notes!
[Edited 2/16/06 17:27pm]

I'm starting to get Rave "faint praise" off of these reviews. Gonna keep my mind open, but realistically grounded.

See sticky http://www.prince.org/msg/7/177834