> ECLIPSE - THE TFSS REVIEW
> Taken from TFSS 10 Archive
>TRACK
LISTING
1) I Wish Me
You 4:05
2) Hung Up 3:50
3) Eyes Don’t
Lie 3:36
4) I Get Such A High 4:42
5) The Writing
On The Wall 4:25
6) Gotta Lot Of Love (Sucha Remix) 4:58
7) Don’t Let
Me Be The Lonely One 4:31
8) Surely (Re-mix) 4:47
9) (I Love You)
4 Sentimental Reasons 4:50 10) Funktafied
4:03
11) One Way
Mirror 3:43
12) Tell Me What You Want 4:00
13) Get A Life
Together 2:44
14) I Give You Give (Re-Mix) 3:33
> It may well
have escaped your attention (somehow we doubt that it has) but March 2001
finally saw the release of Five Star’s ninth studio album. Entitled “Eclipse”,
recording first began more than four years ago, and the road to release
was hampered by changing release dates and the lack of a record deal with
a major label, not to mention the apparent departure of Doris and Delroy
from the group.
> This all lead
to Eclipse finally becoming available to Five Star fans via the tent records
website where the album has been on pre-order since October 1st 2000. And
now, seven years after their last album, Eclipse is finally here . . .
. but is it any good?
1)
I Wish Me You
Written by Gary
Baker. Anthony Little and Wayne Perry
Produced By
Del Pearson
The track
opens with this great mid-tempo track that introduces Denise’s new and
improved, smooth, soulful vocals to the listener. Helped by the harmonies
of the rest of the group, Five Star have never sounded sharper or slicker.
Delroy’s subtle production gives the song the opportunity to stand out.
Already, it becomes clear that Five Star have moved on a long way musically
since Heart and Soul in 1995. I Wish Me You is the perfect choice to open
the album ; guaranteed to keep people listening.
2) Hung Up
Written By Andrea
Martin, Ivan Matias, Greg Smith, Alan Jones, Ben Cauley, James Alexander,
Andres Titus and William R. McLean
Produced By
Del Pearson
A cover of
a track previously recorded by co-writer Andrea Martin, Hung Up is a slightly
up tempo track that, again, blends Denise’s vocals with the group’s tight
harmonies. Where as previous Five Star recordings had a definite difference
between backing and lead vocals, here, they are mixed seamlessly together
to a good effect. This is surely one of the best tracks on the album, with
a great chorus that resists temptation to become overblown.
3) Eyes Don’t
Lie
Written By Andrea
Martin, Ivan Matias and Steve Dubin
Produced by
Del Pearson
Another Andrea
Martin track that just missed out on becoming the lead single from the
album. An upbeat, happiness inducing track with a memorable chorus, that,
when coupled with Denise’s soaring and individual vocals, and Delroy’s
instrumental and production input, becomes an amazing song that showcases
the talents of the group. If you’ve heard the group sing this accapella,
it sounds great, but check out this version for a truly brilliant track.
It deserves to be the next single. One of the best Five Star tracks to
date.
4) I Get Such
A High
Written By Sherree
Ford-Payne, Derrick Edmondson and Ronny Martin
Produced by
Del Pearson
A laid back
track that again demonstrates the group’s vocal abilities. Denise puts
her all into the lead vocal, adding a deeper sound to her voice that heard
previously. Accompanied by former Tent signing, Michael Thompson, on guitars,
I Get Such A High is a mellow, catchy track that should be vying for release
as a single from the album. Despite being the fourth track on the album
the quality has yet to slip.
5) The Writing
On The Wall
Written by William
Harmond, Christopher Troy, Valerie Davis, Ricky Simmonds
Produced By
Zak Harmond and Christopher Troy
Taken from
1994’s Heart and Soul album, this amazing ballad saw Denise proving herself
as a powerful balladeer. It appears here in its original form. Whilst it
was, and still is, a great track, its inclusion here seems somewhat pointless.
As a fan, it seems jarring to be listening to new Five Star tracks, then
suddenly going back to listening to a 7 year old track. However, to new
listeners, it may blend in with the excellence of the previous 4 tracks.
6) Gotta Lot
Of Love (Sucha Remix)
Written By Galor
D and Robert Jerald
Produced By
Jason Hess
Another track
taken from Heart and Soul, this does at least have the privilege of being
a previously unreleased remix ; a left over from the track’s one planned
single release. Mixed by Taavi Motai (Another Weekend / Rock My World),
the mix has a mellower feel than the original, but the change is not exceptionally
drastic. We get to hear a lot more of Denise on this version, but
surely a better choice would have been a brand new remix of the upbeat
Best of Me from Heart and Soul.
7) Don’t Let
Me Be The Lonely One
Written By Denise
Pearson and Del Pearson
Produced By
Del Pearson
Opening with
Denise’s haunting vocals over a slow building backing, this ballad is the
perfect opportunity for Denise and Delroy to demonstrate their songwriting
abilities. It also gives Denise the chance to experiment with a definite
solo track, as it is her voice that carries the song. Though not one of
their best ballads, it can certainly hold its own. Though nowhere near
as strong as the first four tracks, this is far from album filler material.
8) Surely (Re-Mix)
Written By Doris
Pearson, Ian Prince and Del Pearson
Produced By
Ian Prince and Delroy Pearson
When I first
heard this remix of Surely, I was impressed. Jason Hess had managed
to make one of my least favourite tracks from Heart and Soul, into a real
RnB masterpiece,highlighting the harmonies the original version lacked.
Though not a patch on Del’s own remix, this version of Surely is just about
worthy of inclusion on Eclipse (far more so that Got A Lot Of Love). That
catchy chorus line will still stick in your head, even if you don’t like
the track.
9) (I Love You)
4 Sentimental Reasons (No Rap)
Written By Deek
Watson and William Best
Produced By
Jason Hess
The single
that ‘relaunched’ Five Star back in 1995 appears again on Eclipse. Be warned
though, the replacement of ‘for’ with ‘4’ and the fact that it’s the ‘No
Rap’ version leaves ILYFSR sounding exactly the same as it did six years
ago; dull, plodding and demonstrating few of Five Star’s talents as recording
artistes. Why they didn’t include their amazing acapella version of this
song is beyond me. One to skip . . . unless of course you liked it six
years ago . . . and still do.
10) Funktafied
Written By Denise
Pearson and Del Pearson
Produced By
Del Pearson
Despite it’s
title, Funktafied is not the barnstormer of a dance track it suggests.
Instead, it is in fact, perhaps, the raunchiest Five Star slowy ever! Saucy
lyrics and a grinding beat show that Five Star have grown up in style.
Chosen as the lead single, Funktafied is perfect for the US market and
genuine RnB fans, however, here in the UK there are other more pop orientated
tracks that might bring better chart success as a lead in single. There
is no doubt that Funktafied is a great track, with a great chorus hook
and string of “yeah, yeah, yeahs”, demonstrating Five Star’s ability to
slip between musical styles and still produce a high calibre product.
11) One Way
Mirror
Written by Doris
Pearson and Del Pearson
Produced by
Del Pearson and Zane
One Way Mirror
is the first of the two new Doris led tracks on the album, and as is usually
the case, this track is an funky pop track, that builds on the urban sound
Doris cultivated on her Heart and Soul tracks. The style of the track gives
Doris little chance to demonstrate her full vocal abilities, instead opting
for a forceful pouting vocal. Although the track is a “grower” and
gives a variety
of styles to the album, it does not compare to some of Doris’ earlier work.
12) Tell Me
What You Want
Written by Denise
Pearson and Del Pearson
Produced by
Del Pearson
This stylish ballad
sees Denise in fine form, with Lorraine and Stedman’s backing vocals harmonising
slickly, bringing back memories of the ballads from Between The Lines.
Though not a stand out track, Tell Me What You Want is a strong example
of a well produced ballad, but only just escapes the tag of “bland”.
13) Get A Life
Together
Written by Doris
Pearson and Del Pearson
Produced by
Del Pearson and Zane
Doris’ second new
lead track, again, sees her in feisty form. This track benefits from Delroy’s
production; the repetitive drum beats giving the song the energy it needs.
However, as with One Way Mirror, the track sounds under produced and would
perhaps benefit from a remix to give the song the push it needs. That said,
Get A Life Together is a welcome addition to a, on
the whole, mid-tempo
album, but needs to be longer than its 2:44 running time.
14) I Give You
Give (Re-Mix)
Written by Doris
Pearson, William Harmond and Christopher Troy
Produced by
Colin Peters and Carl Ward.
This re-recorded
version of the group’s last single, sees Five Star doing in the 90s, what
they were so good at in the 80s ; making memorable pop songs that you wanted
to dance to. Brought further up to date from its original form by this
newer version, the song still holds its own in 2001. Fast and funky, Doris
gives the vocals her all, in what some call (controversially)
her finest hour
so far.
> FINAL VERDICT
Having waited six
years for a new Five Star album, it was inevitable that this release would
come under intense scrutiny from fans, desperate to see if Five Star still
had the magic touch. Well, here’s the news ; they do - and some of the
tracks from this album (Eyes Don’t Lie, I Get Such A High) have proved
to be some of the best Five Star tracks ever! It would have been all to
easy to praise this album to the skies, just as it would have been easy
to tear it apart, but trying to review it objectionably, the new tracks
on Eclipse show the talent the group has. Unlike most of Heart and Soul,
Five Star have demonstrated their ability to fuse pop and soul together
seamlessly; something many fans worried might not happen again.
The inclusion of
the tracks from Heart and Soul is the album’s low point. Though these tracks
all have their merits, mixing them with new tracks seems jarring and unnecessary.
However, for a new Five Star fan, as one would assume Mr Pearson planned,
the album would be a great starting point, as it does demonstrate the wide
range of abilities, styles and talents that Five Star have.
The other criticisms
were that ; there was no photo of the group on the cover, (but understandably,
there would be that question of who to include as part of ‘Five Star’)
and that there is no solo track for Lorraine. These are just minor
points, however, and do not detract from the quality of the album.
To hear new material
from Five Star after so long has been amazing. What has heightened the
experience is the fact that these new tracks are so strong, with great
vocals, sharp harmonies and slick production.
Eclipse can be
filed just below Silk and Steel and Shine, as one of the group’s best albums
to date. Let’s hope there’s another one this good coming soon!
To all those fans
who held on for this album, and continued believing; your commitment has
finally paid off. To all those who didn’t, what are you doing? Come back
. . . . Five Star are as great as they ever have been - if not better!
9/10
