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IsraelChapter One SonyBMG 22 year old Melbournian artist Israel has enjoyed a deceptively long-standing presence in the Australian r'n'b scene. He's already produced tracks for J Wess, Selwyn and Kyle, as well as remixing 1200 Techniques. In fact, it's surprising that this is his debut solo album despite this long history. However, this is perhaps the only surprise to be found here. To put it bluntly: this is pretty much a stock standard r'n'b album, from the sounds and the production (simple beats and smooth melodies) to the imagery and subject matter of the songs (love, lover's tiffs, partying and autobiographical, almost self indulgent, tales). There are already the proven hits from the album: the abstract Work Da Middle Part 2, (which many will recognize from recent Jay Jay's advertising campaign) and the already popular club hit Old Skool Luv. Israel's own Elite Fleet does a very credible job in producing the album and is definitely of a higher standard than that of most Australian r'n'b releases. Echoes of influences such as Usher, Blackstreet and Jodeci are evident throughout the album and Israel also creates balance and depth by involving international urban artists in Jin and Thara, as well as Australia's own Ka$h, Ken Hell, BVP, Valerii and KG. Israel has already proven himself to be a credible producer and is quickly establishing himself as a complete artist and performer. He clearly has talent, but whether his status and production quality will continue to rise is entirely in his own hands.  |
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