Ten City – The Next Generation LP [Nervous Records]

Ten City – The Next Generation LP [Nervous Records]

Back in the late 1980’s Chicago’s Ten City set a new standard for soulful dance music with their seminal debut ‘Foundation’, home to timeless classic house anthems like “Devotion,” “Right Back to You” and “That’s The Way Love Is”. Fast forward 36 years and six albums later, and frontman Byron Stingily is back at the helm, teaming up with Chicago house producer force Emmaculate for a fresh Ten City chapter: ‘The Next Generation’ on Nervous Records. The 13-track project bridges rich house heritage with a forward-thinking touch, whilst genre hopping across the house music spectrum with its heart steeped in soul. Stingily’s unmistakable falsetto leads a lineup of boundary-pushing vocalists including Mon’Aerie, El Boogie & Ric Wilson, DRAMA, D. Lylez, OVEOUS and Uneq’ka. Behind the boards, Emmaculate is joined by co-producers Shebazz Curtis, DJ Flipside, Na’el Shehade, Gershon Jackson and Paris Cesvette.

‘The Next Generation’ is a refined blend of house music’s past, present and future, all delivered with unmistakable Chicago flair. Aside of a fabulous cover version of Eddie Kendricks’ classic ‘He’s A Friend’,  this album is brimming with all newly penned songs and productions, with highlights including ‘Unique’, ‘Hands To The Sky’, ‘Man Like Me’, ‘Feel Good’ and ‘Release’… in fact they’re all great, there are certainly no fillers here! This album is a breath of fresh air, as Ten City prove that great dance floor songs can still be written with a little talent, creativity and magic. If you’re a house head or lover of soulful grooves, then do check this album out, it’s an absolute peach!