The Real Thing

Description

The Real Thing is an instrumental album by the American DJ, audio engineer, and Electronic Dance Music producer Scott Blackwell, released on Myx Records in 1994, a division of the Frontline Music Group, distributed by Diamante Distribution. The album was recorded mostly at Perfect Music in Manchester, England; with Scott Blackwell and Zarc Porter (of The World Wide Message Tribe fame) producing.

If you are expecting this, Scott Blackwell’s third solo album, to be similar to ‘Once Upon A Time‘ and ‘Walk On The Wild Side‘, you will probably be in for a bit of a shock. For this album was recorded “mostly at Perfect Music in Manchester, England” and is a mainly instrumental affair, produced with the help of (surprise, surprise) Zarc Porter. However, do not be put off, for this album represents just as much a leap forward in Christian music as either of Scott’s previous releases. The emphasis musically seems to be very much on songs that could be played at a full-on dance event, rather than simply on tracks to listen to at home, so R&B fans may be disappointed, but the raving throng out there should purchase without further hesitation. The Zarc Porter influence cannot be over-emphasised, with his trademark phased keyboard riffs and skittish basslines (rather like on Rhythm Saints «LA Story») appearing in various places throughout the album. Limit X also feature, as co-writers of the track «Bwana Bwana» and as vocalists on tracks such as «Pathfinder», an ambient/tribal track that periodically proclaims “I’m on my way…To find heaven”. Ambient influences abound elsewhere too, such as «Ambient Theology 101», an interesting track that demonstrates the album’s experimentalism well. Other intriguing songs include the acid jazz «When I Was A Child», sounding rather like something from Jamiroquai, and «There But For The…», which is one of the best instrumentals I have heard from Scott. But for me, it is the anthemic «Ensoul» and the surprising «Day By Day» remix from ‘Walk On The Wild Side’ that make this album truly worth searching out and playing very loud. Now, someone distribute it in the UK (haven’t I read that somewhere before?). [Dave Drodge, Cross Rhythms, June 1995]

Re-issue

Less accessible than the near classic ‘A Myx’d Trip To A Gospel House’, this is still worth the investigation. It shows the American deejay/producer working with the Tribe’s Zarc Porter and features Scott stretching out for an underground club sound. The ambient/tribal «Pathfinder» (with Limit X) and the acid jazz «When I Was A Child» are truly wonderful. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, August 1995]

[Bruce A. Brown, CCM, February 1995]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-real-thing/385207259)

CD tracklist:

01. One To The Power Of One
02. There But For The……
03. When I Was A Child
04. Day By Day (Rhythm Saints vs. Blackwell Reconstruction Myx) (feat. Allegra Parks and Sandra Stephens)
05. X Factor (feat. Limit X)
06. Pathfinder
07. Ensoul
08. Ambient Theology 101
09. Bwana Bwana
10. Real

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

---

[youtube_sc url=”” playlist=”NT742Ds8YM0,BvJg8KP3R-E,jrIFioC9ZPc,NYwgu8dmmts,c_1Pj6JseIs,ZXnopfccpNE,U5KqmryG_Oo,YM-gvFmpNuE,qfKMpiwqExI,7_Tx68fnUe8″ title=”Scott Blackwell, The Real Thing – One To The Power Of One + There But For The…… + When I Was A Child + Day By Day + X Factor + Pathfinder + Ensoul + Ambient Theology 101 + Bwana Bwana + Real” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]