Vick Lavender :: "Vida"
Review by Terry Matthew | Published December 2006 | Review Archives
Gorgeous jazz organ work (a Hammond B-3?) kicks this off and never lets up. I found myself shocked when I heard the preview on traxsource, and the full version is even more breathtakingly beautiful. This piece is one of the things I love about Vick Lavender and Mr. A.L.I. in general: there's a complexity and virtuosity to these tracks but it's not only danceable - it's a goddamned jam. The groove here is heavy afrobeat (for some reason, high life came to mind) and the organ sets a get-down and dirty tone. I found it more energetic than a lot of deep house is - not that the tempo is any faster, but the inherent rhythm and power of the groove really picks you up. Rather than a remix, the song presents enough facets from the aforementioned organ opening to the gentle and minimal keyboard work that dominates the second half to set the mood for just about any deep set. Really outstanding.