Shibuya is the new project from the creative minds of NICOLAY and PHONTE COLEMAN, better known as THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE, whose sophomore album, the independent R&B/Soul smash Leave It All Behind (TFE/Hard Boiled; Oct. 2... more »008), continues to gain momentum as the duo and their extended family of singers and musicians currently tour the United States and Canada with their critically acclaimed live show. The countless performances together have added a new level of sophistication to the musical output of Nicolay and Phonte, resulting in what they themselves consider to be one of their most ambitious projects yet. The idea for Shibuya, which is the second installment in Nicolay's City Lights series of albums, was first conceived after his first visit to Tokyo, Japan. Once back home, he wrote and recorded with a new-found sense of freedom, laying the groundwork for the albums Time:Line and Leave It All Behind as well a third album, a deeply personal homage to the Tokyo district of Shibuya that illustrates both the grandeur of Japan's age-old heritage ("Meiji Shrine, "Rain In Ueno Park", "The Inner Garden") as well as the hectic city life of one of the world's busiest metropolitan areas ("Crossing", "Satellite", "Bullet Train") through two suites of richly multi-layered instrumental pieces. Where City Lights Volume 1 was primarily instrumental, on Shibuya, the instrumental pieces are book-ended by several vocal songs written by Phonte, who keeps showing remarkable growth as a songwriter and vocal arranger, for up and coming fellow North Carolina vocalist CARLITTA DURAND, who previously collaborated with Phonte on LITTLE BROTHER's Getback album (ABB 2007) and many other projects. Also appearing is "FE" liveband-mate ZO!, who adds his virtuoso keyboard solos to two songs.« less
Shibuya is the new project from the creative minds of NICOLAY and PHONTE COLEMAN, better known as THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE, whose sophomore album, the independent R&B/Soul smash Leave It All Behind (TFE/Hard Boiled; Oct. 2008), continues to gain momentum as the duo and their extended family of singers and musicians currently tour the United States and Canada with their critically acclaimed live show. The countless performances together have added a new level of sophistication to the musical output of Nicolay and Phonte, resulting in what they themselves consider to be one of their most ambitious projects yet. The idea for Shibuya, which is the second installment in Nicolay's City Lights series of albums, was first conceived after his first visit to Tokyo, Japan. Once back home, he wrote and recorded with a new-found sense of freedom, laying the groundwork for the albums Time:Line and Leave It All Behind as well a third album, a deeply personal homage to the Tokyo district of Shibuya that illustrates both the grandeur of Japan's age-old heritage ("Meiji Shrine, "Rain In Ueno Park", "The Inner Garden") as well as the hectic city life of one of the world's busiest metropolitan areas ("Crossing", "Satellite", "Bullet Train") through two suites of richly multi-layered instrumental pieces. Where City Lights Volume 1 was primarily instrumental, on Shibuya, the instrumental pieces are book-ended by several vocal songs written by Phonte, who keeps showing remarkable growth as a songwriter and vocal arranger, for up and coming fellow North Carolina vocalist CARLITTA DURAND, who previously collaborated with Phonte on LITTLE BROTHER's Getback album (ABB 2007) and many other projects. Also appearing is "FE" liveband-mate ZO!, who adds his virtuoso keyboard solos to two songs.
"I'll be honest, I might be a little biased towards Nicolay. I came upon his production via Foreign Exchange 2 years ago and have been following him ever since. His most recent production venture is a mostly instrumental affair, full of the sights and sounds of Shibuya. It's a wonderful concept album that makes you feel you're walking down the street (hence the "sights and sounds").
People shouldn't expect a Foreign Exchange type album...it's not meant to be that. There's only a few tracks with vocals...but what there is, though, is an extraordinary effort, full of real musical talent. I know I sound like a fanboy, but I'm slow to really, really like music. I think today's market is full of subpar stuff that's lazy four bar loops...looped. This CD provides the antithesis to such pop trash."
AMAZING!
Stephen A. Levitin | Chapel HIll, NC | 09/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the future of music on all levels..
Organic, fresh music put out by incredible musicians through their own label....impressed on every plane of this universe."
Outstanding - Seriously Underrated
DJ | DC | 07/31/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is groundbreaking.
I listen to a LOT of music. I stumbled across this gem while searching for Foreign Exchange. It's one of the best albums I've ever heard. It's like Nicolay found some spiritual inspiration while he was in Tokyo. There is something mystical about the music that you can feel as you listen.
I swear I find calm, peace and hope in this album, I know this all sounds crazy but I can't really put it into words. When you are in a good listening space try it out. If you have any tolerance for the electronic genre I can almost promise that you'll wake up in another life when you're done.
The album has at least NINE classic songs:
Wake Up In Another Life
Shibuya Station
Satellite
Meiji Shrine
Saturday Night
Rain in Ueno Park
Crossing
Lose Your Way
Omotesando
This is one of the most underappreciated album of the decade. I can't find reviews of the album by major music publications. Perhaps the record company didn't pay enough people to listen."
Great Record!
J. Schlette | Monterey, CA | 04/08/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Really solid album. I was intrigued enough by the samples I heard on Amazon to buy it, not ever having heard of Nicolay or his other group, Foreign Exchange (just looked that up on wiki). I immediately liked it, but after four or five listens in the last week or so since I got it it's fast becoming one of my favorites. The whole record is super mellow, without being boring or cheesy, and always puts me in a good mood. The production is top notch, especially the fat analog synths that play most of the melodies, and the mixture of vocal and instrumental tracks keeps the album flowing perfectly. I've never bothered to review anything on here before, but this is enough of a standout to make me want to help the guy promote it. If you like anything like ambient Aphex or Boards of Canada, you will definitely appreciate this album."
WHAT?
Momentzzzz | Alexandria V.A. | 12/28/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Wow....I was at a loss...when I began listening to this CD, because I was expecting something similar to CITY LIGHTS volume "2" it is definately different,very atmospheric..one to listen to on a trip while driving..However if expecting something similar to the foriegn exchange..this is not that album, this is a different sound..which was a little dissapointing."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
