Power

Description

Power is the sophomore full-length album by the American dance/pop group Raze, released in the US on ForeFront Records in 1999, distributed by Chordant Distribution Group. As well marketed and distributed in the UK and Europe by Alliance Music. The album was produced by Tedd T., Quinlan (tracks 4, 9, and 11), and Zarc Porter of The World Wide Message Tribe (tracks 1 and 8).

If you think Raze are just an American clone of the World Wide Message Tribe, but without their creative cutting edge, it’s time to change your preconceptions! Zarc Porter co-wrote five of the songs and co-produced two, but Raze now have a clear identity of their own, standing stylistically somewhere in-between TLC, Another Level and Basement Jaxx. This, their second full-length album, features a good variety of styles, grooves and tempos, all with strong arrangements, funky R&B/Dance programming and brilliant vocals and raps. This is everything you need from a Christian album: quality production; great tunes; up to date style; evangelistic and worshipful lyrics, and plenty of musical talent! The only fault is, four of the tunes (out of thirteen) have been heard before on other Raze releases, though «Brighter Day» and «Shouldn’t It Be Me» now sound significantly better than they used to! [Andy Cooper, Cross Rhythms, April 1999]

This project’s a mixed bag. Raze – a multi-racial, multi-gender foursome – exudes pop balladry and dance elements on Power, but once the last of the 13 tracks passes into the air, it’s clear that Raze’s forays under the mirrored ball and strobe lights make a bigger splash than its brightly scrubbed attempts at pop shimmer.

At its best, which is the majority of the time, Power offers Euro-styled music and vocals reminiscent of World Wide Message Tribe, with piano-driven melodies, uber-BPMs and exuberant, female-anchored choruses.

The rest of the time, however, the songs sound half-baked. While they’re in the minority, the weaker songs unfortunately kick off the disc. «All Around the World», for instance, sports fine dance beats and exciting instrumentation, but the chorus’ monotone, robot-like vocals don’t fly. Likewise on «Lead Me» and «Place in My Heart», the choruses lack life and believability.

Raze raises the stakes, though, with «Say the Word» and «Shoulder Shake», two mid-album tunes where the beats shine and the singing sounds inspired and free. The latter, especially, succeeds with a reggae-esque vocal bridge and wild, incidental shouts that jump from speaker to speaker. Very cool.

«In the Name» and «Listen» are the best songs on Power. The former is a funky number that employs smart beats, horns and fun, sweaty singing, as well as lyrics that recall Christ’s sacrifice. The latter starts off way too slowly, but the beats kick into overdrive about a minute in, and Raze proceeds to bang out imaginative vocals overtop a super-quick, jamming rhythm.

Yes, Power is a mixed bag, but fortunately it’s filled with more candy bars than celery sticks. [Dave Urbanski, CCM, August 1999]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/power/724751404)

CD tracklist:

01. All Around The World
02. Lead Me
03. Place In My Heart
04. Say The Word
05. Shoulder Shake
06. My Everything
07. In The Name
08. Can You Hear Me Now
09. Change
10. Brighter Day
11. Shouldn’t It Be Me
12. Ubu
13. Always And Forever (BFF)

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by ForeFront Records.

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A full-page advertisement for Raze’s album Power was featured in the July 1999 issue of CCM Magazine.

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