Released: March 18
Electribe 101’s lost album ‘Electribal Soul’ is their forgotten masterpiece.
Recorded in 1991, the group’s sophomore record was conceived as the sequel to their 1990 debut album, ‘Electribal Memories’, and fuelled by a newfound confidence within the group.
“There was a degree of confidence among us when we came to write the second album,” recalls vocalist Billie Ray Martin. “To me, the songs we put down sound like some of our finest moments.”
If the first album was made for the dancefloor, its follow-up has an overarching air of sophistication, as opener Insatiable Love sets a tone for the LP, with her impressive vocal range front and centre.
Lyrics from Moving Downtown had found their way into Pimps, Pushers, Prostitutes by S’Express, and the song would appear as Running Around Town on Martin’s 1996 solo album.
Meanwhile, Deadline For My Memories, the song that provided the title for Martin’s first solo album, was originally intended for the second Electribe 101 album.
Three decades on, Martin’s voice remains undeniably impressive and the music on ‘Electribal Soul’ brilliantly timeless.
‘Electribal Soul’ is available on CD and vinyl.