Alison Limerick - And Still I Rise (1992), With A Twist (1994) & Spirit Rising (1998) TRIPLE POST!!!

As it's been awhile since my last post, I'm hitting you with yet another triple post!  This time I'm featuring house diva Alison Limerick.  Alison was born in London and at first set out to be a dancer, even attending the London Contemporary School of Dance.  But her strong, soulful voice couldn't be denied and soon she was an in demand backing singer.  Her first major gig was backing vocals on Style Council's "Shout To The Top" in 1984.  Through the rest of the 80s and early 90s she made vocal appearances on songs by an eclectic array of alternative artists such as Peter Murphy, The Icicle Works, Ultravox and This Mortal Coil, on whose albums she took lead on several tracks like "Nature's Way" and "Drugs".  During this time she also began working with producer and songwriter Lati Kronlund.  Kronlund had written a house song that he thought Alison's voice would be perfect for, and "Where Love Lives" was born.  Released in 1990 on Arista, the song became a huge club hit, thanks in large part to the remix by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales.  In 1991, it reached #3 on the Billboard dance chart and #27 on the UK singles chart.  This led to an album deal with Arista, but the second single, "Come Back (For Real Love)", was less successful, only reaching #53 on the UK pop chart. She did almost make the top 40 again that year with a collaboration with Malcolm McLaren, "Magic's Back". And the next single from her album, "Make It On My Own", was another chart hit, reaching #6 on the Billboard dance chart and #16 on the UK chart.  But the album was not released in the US, and the follow-up singles "Hear My Call" and "Gettin' It Right" were only minor chart hits in the UK. Undaunted, Alison began to work on new music.  While her next single, "Time Of Our Lives", failed to chart, her remake of Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Love Come Down" managed to hit the UK top 40 at #36, and her second album was released in 1994, with Frankie Knuckles behind the production of most of it.  It wasn't successful enough for the label to keep her, alas. She kept busy over the following few years by contributing vocals and lyrics to acid jazz group Vibraphonic, and had another minor UK hit with the James Taylor Quartet, "Love Will Keep Us Together". Then, in 1996, "Where Love Lives" was re-released with new mixes, and became an even bigger hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard dance chart and #9 on the UK pop chart.  Then "Make It On My Own" was re-released and reached #30 on the UK chart.  This led to another album with an indie label in 1998, and the preceding single. "Put Your Faith In Me", just missed the top 40 in the UK.  None of the follow up singles - "Never Knew", "Let's Hold On (To Love)" and "Spirit Rising", managed to chart, however.  And though she has not released a proper album since, Alison has kept very busy with music, collaborating on singles with, among others, X-Press 2, And If, Ringleader and Ikon, as well as extensive touring.  And in 2003, "Where Love Lives" appeared on the charts yet again thanks to new remixes, reaching #16 on the Billboard dance charts and #44 on the UK pop chart, proving you can't keep a good song down.  Expect it to 'live' again on the charts in the near future.  You can keep up with Alison via her Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Video for Where Love Lives

Video for Make It On My Own

Video for Gettin' It Right

Video for Come Back (For Real Love)

Download And Still I Rise

1	Make It On My Own
2	Gettin' It Right
3	Where Love Lives (Come On In)
4	Hear My Call
5	Trouble
6	Come Back (For Real Love)
7	Tell Me What You Mean
8	Let's Make A Memory
9	You And I
10	The Difference Is You

Video for Time Of Our Lives

Video for Love Come Down

Download With A Twist

1	Time Of Our Lives
2	Love Come Down
3	Twisted
4	No Way Out
5	Crime To Be That Cool
6	So Long
7	Sentimental
8	Buck The System
9	Take It Back
10	Let's Just Pretend
11	Build Your Love
12	Unique
13	Come Home

Video for Put Your Faith In Me

Video for Let's Hold On (To Love)

Download Spirit Rising

1	Spirit Rising
2	Never Knew
3	Let's Hold On (To Love)
4	Put Your Faith In Me
5	How Happy
6	Stronger Love
7	So Far So Good
8	Dangerous Game
9	Take It Easy
10	It's Getting Better (This Could Be Good)
	Bonus Tracks
11	Never Knew (Joe T. Vanelli Classic Mix)
12	Put Your Faith In Me (Peppermint Jam Faith Club Mix)
13	Let's Hold On To Love (Metro Mix)
14	Where Love Lives (Ruff Driverz Full Vocal Mix)

Cardenia - Memory (1994)

I was just updating Cardenia's page on Last.fm and thought, why not share their one and only album with ya'll?  It is perfect for the blog, and I haven't featured any good, old-fashioned euro-house in some time.  Surprisingly, in this day and age, there is little info on the group online.  But it was one of many one-off side projects of the German production duo behind Masterboy, one of euro-house's biggest successes, so I guess there isn't much to tell anyway.  The vocalist for the group was Viola Engler (not entirely sure that she's the lady on the cover, however), who was assisted by rapper Wayne Dallaway.  The name of the album was perfect, as it was almost exclusively filled with remakes of popular HiNRG and synth-pop classics, thus great memories, though the first single, "Toccata", was based on the Bach composition. This was followed by single releases of remakes of  "Living On Video" by Trans-X (the vocals on this are different and are rumoured to be by Masterboy's vocalist Trixi Delgado), "Passion" by The Flirts and "Happy Station" by Fun Fun.  The rest of the album consisted of remakes of Vangelis' "Pulstar", Roni Griffith's "Desire", Valerie Dore's "The Night", Koto's "Visitors" and Laura Branigan's version of Raf's "Self Control", as well as a couple of originals.  Of course, I love euro-house AND HiNRG, and adore the originals of all of the songs, so this album provided amazing memories for me, and hopefully will for you too, or will at least introduce you to some great old songs.

Download Memory

1	Intro
2	Living On Video
3	Passion
4	Pulstar
5	Happy Station
6	Visitors
7	Desire
8	The Night
9	Self Control
10	Passion (Ragga Remix)
11	Living On Video (Hyper Space Mix)
12	Outro
13	Toccata
14	Let The Bass Control Your Mind
15	Trigger Baby

Sara Craig - E.P. (1991), Sweet Exhaust (1994) & Miss Rocket (1997) TRIPLE POST!!!

Out of the blue Sara Craig popped into my head this morning, and it occurred to me that she would be a perfect artist to feature on the Isle.  She is another of those artists that seem to have disappeared and are impossible to find any new info on on the internet, which is what makes her perfect for this blog.  Plus her music really should be heard, especially outside of her native Canada, as it is unusual and haunting.  If you like theatrical artists like Feist, Kate Bush, Sinead O'Connor, Jane Siberry or Tori Amos, but with a bit of a darker yet poppier edge (she sites influences like Eartha Kitt and Tina Turner), then Sara's for you.  Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Sara boldly posted an ad in a Toronto magazine in 1987 looking for musicians to work with, even though she had no experience.  After working with cover bands and as a session musician, she moved to the thriving music scene of Toronto, where she independently recorded and released her solo E.P. (which was reissued four years later by her label Attic after her success), which became an indie hit in Canada and even spawned a minor hit single in "Bike".  She was soon signed to Attic Records and released her major label debut three years later.  The album was produced by John Punter, a long-time producer who had previously worked with huge acts like Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, John Cougar and Slade, and it was recorded in a local church. The first single, "Thank You (Very Much)", was a charting Canadian hit, and its success was obviously helped by the success at the time of groups like Nine Inch Nails, whose "Closer" was like a companion piece to the dark song.  (Even more amazing is that it contains a brief sample from Isle postee Ingrid Chavez's first single, "Elephant Box".)  It was followed by "Cry Baby", and Sara was nominated for a Juno for Best New Solo Artist.  She took a few more years to record her next album, choosing to pursue a poppier and less dark sound to reflect her changing mood.  This time she recorded in London, England, with British producer Chris Tsangarides, who had his greatest successes with Concrete Blonde and The Tragically Hip.  The result was a much lighter affair, which was reflected in the singles "Miss Rocket" and "Mr. Right".  The album wasn't as successful, however, perhaps due to the change in musical direction, and it was the last anyone would hear from Sara, apparently.  A pity.  Unless anyone out there can shed some light on what became of this talented lady?  Till then, enjoy the work of a very unique artiste.

Download E.P.

1		Aspiring To
2		Bike
3		Tik Tok
4		Is It The Mind
5		Broomstik

Download Sweet Exhaust

1		Cry Baby
2		Thank You (Very Much)
3		I Thrive
4		Liar
5		Wakerlife Waltz
6		Sparks Fly
7		Sitting On A Fence
8		Souless Cage
9		Close To You
10		Bombarde Me
11		Wow
12		Sweet Exhaust
13		Elastic

Video for Mr. Right

Download Miss Rocket

1		Mister Right
2		My Sky Too
3		Breakwall
4		Hey Beauties
5		Pushing You Away
6		Who Are You
7		Keep On Driving
8		Miss Rocket
9		You Make Me Happy
10		You're Fine

Raiana Paige - One Girl's Story (1994)

Recently I was looking for the latest album by KHZ, a Latin hard rock/industrial band fronted by Raiana Paige, a lovely half-Puerto Rican, half-Italian singer. (Yes, I do like that kind of music. I love a bit of everything. ;) I knew that Raiana had a history in freestyle music, but I didn't know that in the mid-90s she released a solo album on an indie label. Of course, once I learned this I had to have it, and I immediately ordered it off of eBay, with the intention of posting it here for you all. And here it is! Raiana was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx. Though the details regarding the beginning of her music career remain vague, it is clear that she did get the attention of Sleeping Bag Records, who, along with Cutting, were probably the most successful freestyle label by the late 1980s. In 1988 she released her first freestyle single, "Open Up Your Heart", produced by none other than Andy "Panda" Tripoli, who'd had huge club success with The Cover Girls, Sa-Fire and Nayobe, among others. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Dance Chart and led to a follow-up single in 1990, "Rescue Me", also on Sleeping Bag. Despite being produced by Albert Cabrera, another popular freestyle producer who also worked with Sa-Fire and The Cover Girls, the song didn't manage to do as well and only reached #27 on the dance chart. This ended Raiana's run with the label, and it took three more years for her to release another single. "You're My Only Man" was released on London Records in 1993, and was produced by yet another freestyle producer extraordinaire, Carlos Berrios, famous for his "new freestyle" hits with Corina and Lisette Melendez. The song failed to chart at all, however, likely due to the fact that freestyle music had fallen out of public favour and was taking it's last gasp. It appears that Raiana was also over the freestyle sound, as a year later she released her only solo album, and it was pure rock. This was probably the type of music she wanted to sing in the first place, as she sites The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd as influences in the liner notes. Their influence is obvious in the music, which is mostly atmospheric downtempo rock, and the album features her vocals much better than her freestyle tracks did. The album's producer Eddie Frenté had done some mixing and production on "You're The Only Man", but he clearly also appreciated the rock direction Raiana wanted to go, so much so that the two formed the group KHZ in New York soon after. KHZ's first EP appeared in 1996, and they have released four albums since. The musical direction went even further into the rock genre, embracing heavy metal and industrial, with touches of trip hop. Raiana's vocals are much more powerful and she often breaks into guttural wails. (Her stylistic trajectory is actually quite similar to Tairrie B, former member of previous postees Bardeux.) KHZ have remained quite successful within their genre and are still active. They just released a DVD of their videos and will soon release a double album of rarities. (For more info go to their website.) So as you can see, Raiana is proof that you can't judge a failed "pop tart" by her cover, as she may surprise you with something completely different and actually find success with it.

Live performance of Love & Emotion (Thanks to Victor Stemple for this. ;)

Download One Girl's Story

1		Running Waters
2		One Girl's Story
3		Love & Emotion
4		Love & Emotion (Pt. II)
5		The Clown (Gonna' Need A Little Love)
6		I'll Be There
7		Tomorrow Never Happened
8		Scattered Thoughts
9		No Toys To Take Away
10		End Of Innocence
11		One Girl's Story (Pt. II)

Sal's Birdland - So Very Happy (1994)

Another CD I ran across the other day in a dusty box was the first album by Sal's Birdland.  They should be familiar to Isle followers as I did a post on them years ago, but under their newer moniker of Artificial Joy Club.  As I mentioned in that post, the group was formed by the pop duo formerly known as One To One (later One 2 One), Louise Reny and Leslie Howe.  After having several Canadian pop hits as One To One starting in 1985, from the synth-pop of "There Was A Time" and "Angel In My Pocket" (which even appeared at the tail end of the Billboard Hot 100) to the straight up pop of "Hold Me Now" to the folkier pop of  "Memory Lane", they eventually called it quits in 1992 after releasing three albums.  (Howe also produced Alanis Morissette's pre-Jagged Little Pill Canadian pop albums, with Reny assisting, near the end of their time as One 2 One.)  The duo took a couple of years off to regroup, and after enlisting Mike Goyette, Andrew Lamarche, and Tim Dupont, they took the name Sal's Birdland and recorded their first album, which was released on Howe's Ghetto Records label and was produced by Howe.  Their sound became rougher edged, much more rock pop.  The album was impressive enough that the group was picked up for Sire Records' Discovery sublabel in the US, and producer Michael James was enlisted to slick up their sound for the American market.  In 1995, Nude Photos Inside was released.  It consisted mostly of So Very Happy tracks, with "My Heaven", "That's The Way" and "Something Devine" replaced with "Love Is Groovy", "I'm Not Like Madonna", "Crumble" and "Wanna Be A Star".  "Love Is Groovy" was the only single and it failed to make any impact.  This did not discourage the group, however, and in 1997 they returned as Artificial Joy Club on a bigger label, Interscope, and with greater, though still not stellar, success, adding electronic elements to their rock to emulate popular groups of the time, most specifically Garbage (as did several other postees like Transister and Sister Soleil).  When AJC didn't pan out as expected, the group disbanded.  Though keeping a low profile since, Howe occasionally produces and Reny performed with cover band Bubbles Cash and the Rhythm Method.  Should we expect a new incarnation soon?
 
Download So Very Happy

1		Should Have Been A Man
2		My Heaven
3		That's The Way
4		So Fucking Happy
5		California Au Revoir
6		Wonderful World
7		Beating Up Myself
8		Punching Bag
9		Take A Look (At My Life)
10		Someone Devine

A.N.G. - Outta Bounds (1994)

So I thought I'd post a quick one this time as I have a little time and don't want to keep ya'll waiting for something new for too long. This is the only album by A.N.G., which stands for "Aint No Gains". There is so little info in the CD booklet to determine anything about this artist. It appears A.N.G. was a solo female rapper (she calls herself 'Angie ANG' on some tracks), and from the obscured image in the booklet I can't determine her exact race. It was released on the indie label Wall Street Records, which was based in Detroit (and is still based in Michigan), so I assume that's where A.N.G. is from as well. Given the cover with A.N.G. surrounded by a gang on a dark city street, you'd assume this album was gangsta rap, but not at all. (Likely the obscured and misleading album art didn't help the album's success.) It's totally pop-rap, reminiscent of Monie Love or The Real Roxanne's first album. There is even hip-house and the song "I Got What It Takes" samples the Mary Jane Girls classic "In My House". The tracks "Hello Baby" and "Rufless Hoe" were released as singles, but I think it's safe to say they failed to hit anywhere, except maybe locally. And that's all I have on A.N.G.. If anyone else knows anything, please do let us know. For now, enjoy the album, which I admit I only listened to once before, eons ago when I first bought it from a $1 bin - listening to it again, it is actually much better and a lot more fun than I remember.

UPDATE:  A.N.G. herself, real name Angie Gallizzi,  just wrote and gave us a full rundown of her career!  Amazing!  Glad you checked back, Angie, as I wouldn't want you thinking you were being dissed here! LOL I suspected that your image was obscured due to race issues, which is an unfortunate circumstance, as it seems to have gotten easier for "white" rappers.  Your story is an amazing one that many will appreciate here as I'm sure it's similar to several other artists featured here.  Well, at least here your legacy lives on!  Thanks again for filling us in!  Much appreciated.  Everyone who wishes to, contact her Facebook page. So, with no further ado, here is Angie's story (it seems you had to write it twice - sorry, not sure why it didn't work the first time, but since you added a few different pieces of info I'm going to quote both messages. ;):

"I was born and raised in Southwest Detroit. My name is Angelica. I am actually Italian (it was intentional that you could not tell my nationality/race). I stumbled upon the opportunity to rap in 1992 due to auditions through Wall Street Records. By signing with all three Wall Street entites (Records, Production, Management), they had total control over my career. I was made an offer by a major label, but (unfortunately and fatally) Wall Street declinded on my behalf, so here I sit, amongst the 'Isle of Deserted Pop Stars.' LOL. With the proper guidence, I know I could have made it, since my lyrics were versatile (lyrics you won't find on this album!) and my voice could not allow you to guess much about how I looked. I was not allowed to rap how/what I wanted to (my lyrics were extremely street, with a somewhat comical twist), because they (Wall Street) wanted me to be commercial. I actually blew up on Indiana (Southbend area) and did okay amongst D.J.s in Eurpoe. I did some good shows and opened up for Marky Mark, 95 South, and Compton's Most Wanted, and MC Breed (from Flint, Michigan) quite a few times. I would rap offstage for a few minutes to get the crowd into it before I let them know what I looked like; walking out in the early-90s, pale as I was, could turn the crowd completely off. My one and only video for London Bridge still resides on various video networks (http://www.songmama.com/song_213_A.N.G.-London_Bridge.html). Kurtis Blow produced a few cuts on the album. 'Hello Baby' was actually partially remade from Kurtis Blow's 'Good to Go.' I remember him specifically telling me that I was a great writer, an awesome rapper, and that I would never make it (for various reasons). I'm guessing he was right! LOL. Hope this helps and thanks for giving me props. I am actually a pretty good (albeit washed-up) rapper and one of the few who can actually still 'freestyle' the way 'freestyling' was meant to be defined. Anybody with questions can holla at me: Angie Gallizzi (Facebook). PEACE!

My name is Angelica. I am Italian, born and raised in Detroit. I was signed with Wall Street Records, Production, and Management in the early-1990s. It is intentional that you cannot tell what my nationality/race is. I opened for the likes of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, 95 South, and Compton's Most Wanted, as well as MC Breed out of Flint, Michigan (he opened for me once). I used to rap off stage for a few minutes to get the crowd into the show. In the early-1990s it could prove to be quite a bad move to just walk out on stage, as pale as I was. I blew up in Indiana...Southbend area mostly, and did okay in Europe, so I hear. Kurtis Blow was a producer on a few tracks. "Hello Baby" is actually somewhat of a remake of his B-side "Good to Go" (we used the lick on that one)--I completely rewrote the verses. He (Kurt) pulled me to the side and told me that I was a great writer, and awesome rapper, and that I would never make it. He was well aware of my contractual obligation/situation (I signed my life away to Wall Street), and he proved to be right when (unbeknownst to me) a MAJOR label from NYC offered me a deal, which was turned down by my management. Wall Street released my album, but put a lot of money into a group in Atlanta, which proved to be fatal, since that group refused to interview on white radio stations or do certain shows (meanwhile, I grabbed at any exposure I could get). Once Wall Street started to sink, my project was deserted. Hence, I forever reside on the "Isle of Deserted Pop Stars." LOL. For the record, I had songs with amazing lyrics, very street, with a comical twist (you will not find any of this on my album), but was not allowed to rap what/how I wanted to, since Wall Street wanted me to be commercial. And, there you have it! Any other questions, I would be glad to answer here or on Facebook...Angie Gallizzi. If you search that name and come up with 'Whodadaddy Datchocolatedbaby' and see a pale neck with a Detroit 'D' on it, then you have found the right Angie! PEACE!"  

Download Outta Bounds

1		Outta Bounds / That Played Out Trip
2		Havin A Baby
3		Life Goes On
4		Political Trippin Intro
5		Political Trippin
6		Outta Bounds / Keep Em Rollin
7		I Got What It Takes
8		Outta Bounds / Turn Up Da Bass Base
9		Jack Jam
10		Rufless Hoe
11		Outta Bounds / Do You Lof Me
12		London Bridge
13		Hello Baby

On Edge - On Edge (1994)

Keeping with the new 'jill' swing theme, here is another of the lesser known girl groups that embodied the sound. On Edge consisted of Tha Rhythum, ShaBop and Jasz, whose real names were Charlotte Crooms, Amica Johnson and Schveka Brown. They apparently came from Michigan and were lucky enough to be signed to Motown. Their sound ventured more to the soul and slow jam side of the new jack swing sound, thanks to production mostly from Kayo, who had worked with other R&B stars like Pebbles, The Boys, After 7, Johnny Gill, Damian Dame and TLC. They released the ballad "Edge Of My Bed", but it didn't hit anywhere other than the lower ends of the R&B charts. As a result, like Times 3, they seemed to get lost in the sea of R&B girl groups, which, especially during On Edge's time, were popping up every week. A promo was released for their more upbeat remake of Stevie Wonder's "Maybe Your Baby", but nothing came of it. It's likely they were dropped soon after. They disappeared until Tha Rhythum (Charlotte Crooms), who was the rapper of the group, appeared again in 1998 on the indie hip hop label Benz, which was headed by rap legend MC Shy D. Shy D also produced and appeared on her album, Against The Odds, but despite several singles being released, her solo work failed to make an impression. Since then it's anyone's guess what all three ladies have been up to, though very recently Schveka Brown appeared on Sam Sneed's song "Uncle Sam", so clearly they all haven't given up on the music scene. (She is also on Facebook as Schveka Cooper Stroman should you be interested in seeking her out and asking her what's up. ;)

Video for Edge Of My Bed

Download On Edge

1		Edge Of My Bed
2		My Mind Is Naked
3		Don't Go Ho
4		Would You Lie To Me
5		Vibe
6		Black Berry Juice (Interlude)
7		Life On The Edge
8		Maybe Your Baby
9		Anythang U Want
10		69 Ways
11		Black Berry Juice (Outrolude)

Ricca - Ricca (1994)

Recently I was perusing my dear friend Joe's blog Milk Carton Pop Stars and was reminded that I never did listen to or get my hands on the only album by Ricca. Well, a quick search on eBay and problem solved! Since Joe did the research and found out what he could about the ladies, and some comments on his post filled in some of the missing pieces, I'll do only a quick summary. Ricca were American sisters Natalie & Elisa Soltren and Teresa Rodrigues. They managed to get a deal with Epic Records and worked with a wide array of producers, including Joyce Irby from Klymaxx and people who produced 80s acts like DeBarge, Tracie Spencer, Sybil and Martika, as well as Isle postees like Lisa Taylor and Louie Louie. In fact, this was one of the last major projects from most of the producers involved. The girls released their first single, "Such A Rush," in 1992 and followed it up with "Any Love" (which features a rap from Monica Payne from one-album-wonders The Gyrlz and Terri & Monica) in 1993. Despite the fact that neither song was a hit, they released their album the following year. As Joe mentions, it was unusual for a Latina act to record R&B, 'new jack swing' style music, which was obviously their selling point. It's really more R&B-lite with a lot of pop elements thrown in, similar to other late 80s/early 90s R&B, which is likely due to their producers. Unfortunately their music didn't appeal to a large audience, and there were rumours of label issues, so they were let go. The ladies have all been active since, and you can find updates both on Milk Carton Pop Stars and Rare And Obscure Music. I agree with Joe that it's shame the album didn't do better, and that I didn't pick it up when it was released, as I would have loved it and perhaps would have helped them have a little more success. Oh well, better late than never. :)

Download Ricca

1		Any Love
2		Such A Rush
3		Time Of My Life
4		Not Wishing
5		I Need Time
6		Do I Dare
7		Hear It Come From You
8		My Way
9		Sunshine & Rain
10		You Can't Love Me (If You Don't Respect Me)
11		Don't Waste My Time
12		Any Love (Spyder's Sound)

Roonie G. - Beyond The Looking Glass (1994)

I've been posting so many 80s albums lately, it's time to step back into the 90s. Here is a CD I picked up in a dollar bin somewhere that remains an interesting sidenote to the career of an artist who has flourished in a different aspect of music - as a DJ. Roongsak Griffeth was born in Thailand but traveled the world from a young age due to his father's station in the army. He eventually settled in Georgia in the US and began DJing as a teen. He eventually attended college and obtained an electrical engineering degree, but stayed employed as a DJ. His specialty was old R&B music, and he ended up getting a residency at an Ohio bar where he remained for 10 years. After honing his remixing skills, in 1989 he was hired to remix many songs for the popular club remixing service Ultimix, where he remixed songs for the likes of Janet Jackson, Naughty By Nature, and Salt 'N' Pepa. His specialty was hip hop and electro, and this led to more work with another DJ service, X-Mix, where he remixed songs by artists like Aaliyah and Chingy. Along the way, it was only natural for him to explore making his own music, and he decided to release an album that would feature his considerable mixing skills. He released the album on his own label. It is very electro-influenced, with a ton of samples and Roonie rapping on most tracks. It also uses heavy doses of freestyle and Miami bass elements, and features female vocals and child voices. At times it's even reminiscent of Snap!. Though he released two singles, the double-sided "Change The Beat/Dirty Mind" and "Voice Of A Nu Generation (The Baby Song)", the album went unnoticed and Roonie returned to DJing. To be honest, with the over-abundance of samples and Roonie's sub-par rapping, it is an acquired taste. But he did carry on very successfully as a DJ, DJing several Superbowl and NBA parties, and he still tours the world, as his website will attest. He also got a reputation as a pioneer of video DJing, mixing sounds and visuals together for a show that goes beyond just music, indeed beyond the looking glass. ;) It is interesting that most of the biographical info available on him doesn't mention his one album as an artist, but it's definitely a rare curio that you should give a spin.

Download Beyond The Looking Glass

1		Intro
2		The Future
3		Merri Go Round
4		Thro' Your Hands In Da Air
5		Beyond The Looking Glass
6		Change The Beat
7		Rush
8		Voice Of A Nu Generation (The Baby Song)
9		Dirty Mind
10		April Fools
11		Girl, U Turn Me On
12		Deeper
13		The G-Spot
14		Worth The Wait
15		Forgive Me Girl