Foreign Exchange, The - Leave It All Behind (Album)
The Foreign Exchange is a hip-hop soul project led by Phonte and Nicolay. As the band name somewhat suggests, they compose by correspondence, with Nicolay, the beat architect, based in Holland. Leave It All behind is their second hip-hop/soul release and it is a marked improvement on their flawed, but promising, debut Connected. Where as Connected featured a largely rapping Phonte, LIAB has only two tracks that feature his slightly clunky style.
Elsewhere, his soulful croon is on full display, and to fantastic effect. Opening track Daykeeper begins with an electronic soundscape that wouldn’t be out of place on Swedish minimalist downbeat 12”, but this is a one-off red herring. The track quickly morphs into this albums characteristic lush R&B. And lush is the operative word, in fact it is almost stifling at times. Lead vocals bleed into backing vocals, and dovetail continually without a break. Whilst working beautifully in the luscious opening track, it is overwhelming by the fourth number Talk Talk. Particularly off-putting in these opening tracks is the staccato rhythm of the vocals, as if Phonte felt every beat required a syllable. This is so at odds with the thick, flowing backing track that it is jarring. Thus I had essentially dismissed this album before track 5 House of Cards. Yet, from here the album picks up immensely, and allows the preceding tracks to be better appreciated in their own context.
House of Cards has an urgency, layering, and dynamics that shifts the listener from the torpor caused by the opening set. Next up two tracks Sweeter Than You and Valediction that are straight from the Stevie Wonder textbook, which would frankly be an issue if it wasn’t for their hat-tipping to the master in the cover of the Wonder-penned If She Breaks Your Heart (Track 8). The cover is beautifully done, with no shortage of help from Stevie Wonder himself who had written a magnificent tune to work with. In fact listening to the juxtaposition of this cover and the rest of the album really shows what a genius Stevie Wonder is; Leave It All behind is really a fine tribute to the man but doesn’t hit anywhere near his stratospheric heights. But who, I suppose, ever has?
Leave it All Behind is a brilliantly accomplished album, from a pairing that is only possible in today’s internet age. The current release comes with a bonus instrumental disc, highlighting the Flying Dutchman Nicolay’s skill. As a nice finishing touch, the liner notes have a blank page at the back stating simply, ‘Thank you for listening’. Nice touch.
Boys, it was a pleasure.
4.5 tulips out of 5.
