- The ‘Rewind’ series began as an experiment last year, with producers and vocalists from as far apart as London, Tokyo and San Francisco all invited to interpret an old school classic or provide some rare grooves. It was such a success that the second instalment ups the budget, weighing in with songs from the likes of The Temptations, Chrissie Hynde, and, er, Sting.
Not to worry though – John Beltran just manages to keep the tantric one’s ‘Fragile’ the right side of AOR. The best cuts here are the most natural, as in Joseph Malik’s jaunty take on Bill Withers’ ‘Take It All In And Check It All Out’. Herbert turns in a classy remix on ‘Meaning Of Love’, and Kurt Weill’s ‘Speak Low’ gets the slow/fast treatment from Big Bang. There’s also a sublime track from Roy Davis Jnr, covering Curtis Mayfield’s ‘People Get Ready’.
An appealing release from Ubiquity then, with enough quality on show to justify further volumes in the series. Just as long as there’s no Phil Collins...