Description
Dance Planet is the sophomore studio album by the British dance band The World Wide Message Tribe, released on N•Soul Records in 1994, distributed by Diamante Music Group in the US. As well distributed under license in Europe by Alliance Music. The album was recorded and produced by Zarc Porter at Perfect Music Studios in Manchester, UK.
We told you it would be good! This is the album that should finally convince everyone that God’s gift to the schools of Manchester are also blessed with dance music talents that border on the genius. Following on from their considerable triumph at Greenbelt the Tribe have delivered an album that not only successfully emulates their own impressive debut but that also sounds as fresh as anything in the charts right now. Dance music is, of course, very easy to make but it’s very difficult indeed to make dance music that’s simply brilliant. This is an album that embraces quite a variety of dance styles without ever losing its impetus or sheer professionalism. From the very first power chords of «Alleluia» you know you’re listening to a quality product. This track provides Andy ‘Heavyfoot’ Hawthorne with the opportunity to deliver a manic, even ferocious piece of rapping which runs right into a chorus of spirit-driven dance worship that should see the angels wearing walkmans. «In My Life» features the vocals of Mark Pennells, which swing deliciously across the beat, all backed up by Zarc Porter’s swirling Gary Numan-style siren keyboard sounds. The heat is turned down slightly for «I’m On My Way To Zion» which is a showcase for new vocalist Sani, and then the temperature returns to boiling point with the searing «We Take The Blame». Written to explain to school kids that the world’s problems are man’s doing rather than God’s, it features an introduction from Heavyfoot that should send shivers down the spine of any conscientious believer: Ethnic cleansing, torture and trust is beyond belief, while thousands live in fear of death, bullets fly, devastating families and dividing countries all in the name of religion – WE TAKE THE BLAME. It’s straight to the heart, pulverising stuff. And the beat never stops. And so it goes on, track after track. ‘There’s Something Going On’, the hauntingly beautiful «Where Are You Going» and the intense swing beat of «Walking In The Glory Of The Graceland» which proved such a hit at the CR dance party. Astonishingly, there is still time for the Heavyfoot to deliver his best work across the jazz-rap backing of «Get God» and for Zarc to further display his genius with a couple of remixes. This is the work of a mature outfit, a group of believers who have a firm grasp of what they believe God wants them to say and the way He wants them to say it. Here is an album that has sufficient depth to bless and challenge you from the speakers of your own stereo. The World Wide Message Tribe have truly arrived and have brought the Spirit with them. [Karl Allison, Cross Rhythms, October 1994]
The World Wide Message Tribe’s debut came close to capturing authentic dance/pop sounds a fair deal of the time, especially those crossing over from the dance floors to the pop charts of their native Britain. With ‘Dance Planet’, the group demonstrates keener knowledge than ever of the scenes they hope to influence.
Authenticity is especially priority in youth ministry, of which the Tribe does plenty in English schools and streets. With new female singer Sani, Heavyfoot Hawthorne’s induplicable Cookie Monster-gone-Cockney rapping & chanting, and better-than-ever production and songwriting from David Mark Pennells, Jr. and behind-the-scenes guy Zarc Porter, they come equipped to rock a world or two.
This they do in an array of styles with some artistic continuity. Hawthorne gets in the rough ‘n’ gruff rhythmic talk like last album, as on «Alleluia» and the percolating «Get God», but teaming up with Sani on the guy rapping/gal singing «Live (Eternally)», recalling Culture Beat and Captain Hollywood Project. Sani and background vocalist Elaine Hanley snag a couple of Planet’s most immediately engaging entries. «I’m On My Way (To Zion)» is praise-filled, perfectly balanced gospel house (with a hook to stay in your brain for months). «Peace», no relation to the recent Porter-produced 65 dBA ditties, turns in a neat trick of an orchestral crash in an ambient, downtempo context.
The Tribe’s ‘Planet’ is ample evidence again this yea that sanctified dance music has come into its own. It shan’t be denied. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, November 1994]
Though the title of this British collective’s sophomore effort may lead you to believe that this is another collection of mostly instrumental, beat-oriented, sample-infested ideas (read: techno), the key thing about ‘Dance Planet’ is that these wacky, happy British kids actually write songs with discernable structure. There are soulful female vocals courtesy of newcomer Sani, aggressive and diverse song writing courtesy of head honcho Mark Pennells and producer Zarc Porter, and the occasional rap break from Heavyfoot, who sounds something akin to the Cookie Monster on amphetamines. World Wide Message Tribe ultimately is like a good college party band: they have occasional spots of brilliance, a lot of things that are good background music to dance to if that’s why you’re at the party, and a few things that make you head to the side of the room to spy a new dance partner for when the beats get good again.
The album begins with the infectious tune «Alleluia», led by Heavyfoots raps which, while quite rudimentary, are unforgettable in their tone, and lead the listener to sing along immediately. From there we journey into the out take sessions from an old Roxette album with «In My Life», an average mid-tempo groove type song with forgettable lyrics and mediocre production. Then we’re on to the recent Christian radio hit «I’m On My Way (To Zion)», which would fit in on the best of the recent K-Tel disco compilations, which is meant as a compliment. Sani’s vocals are strong and confident, and the tune is top notch.
From there the tunes rotate between highlights, lowlights and solid but unspectacular songs that are the bulk of the album. Don’t get this review wrong, ‘Dance Planet’ is a solid effort, it’s just a bit uneven. The mixes are unfocused, as if each person wanted something different to stand out in the tracks, and consequently, nothing does get the sole focus. There seems to be a constant battle between the songs and the beats. Still, with gems like «I’m On My Way (To Zion)», «Life (Eternally)» and other parenthetical wonders, one can’t help but to enjoy what is presented on ‘Dance Planet’, excuse the filler, and hope for better things to come on the next effort. [Theo English, Syndicate # 42, 1994 (Vol. 9)]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/dance-planet/1785996399)
CD tracklist:
01. Alleluia – 3:06
02. In My Life (Fearsome Farmyard Mix) – 5:00
03. I’m On My Way (To Zion) – 4:32
04. We Take The Blame – 3:33
05. I Saw The Sky – 2:41
06. Walking In The Glory (Of The Graceland) – 2:39
07. Where Are You Going? – 4:37
08. Life (Eternally) – 3:40
09. One (Rag And Bone Edit) – 3:21
10. Get God (Hickery-Dickery-Dub) – 2:37
11. Peace – 5:03
12. Zion (Extended) – 5:46
13. Sky (Zappa-De-Do-Dub) – 4:46
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by N-Soul Records.
A full-page advertisement for various Sanctified Dance releases on N-Soul Records, The World Wide Message Tribe’s Dance Planet, was featured in Syndicate Magazine No 42, Vol. 9, 1994.
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