Reviewed by Jim McManus

One of the refreshing sounds to an ear is music that's not tied down to a particular style.  On the strength of their second EP ('Sometimes' EP came out in '96) River Deep are in this category and their latest offering has various surprising influences popping up.  You can hear the refreshment in the hip hop rhythms of "This Is Love", the jazzy blues feel of "Free" and the driving rock guitar and sampling of the re-recorded instrumental "Sci Fi Soap Box".  The purist frowns upon this synergy because it ain't exactly rock or soul or dance but then the purist always had the best designer blindfolds.  The production is of professional class (as is the packaging) and the joining point throughout the whole six tracks are the infectious hooks - I even found myself humming the instrumental track!  "This Is Love" is gorgeous with its lazy beat, melodic dips and rises and feels so complete it puts me in mind of some of the Tribe's hip hop ventures.  The mixture of styles and conviction of musical belief is initially a lonely path but it's on that road that followers become leaders and this band have the potential to lead.  River Deep are British, they are good and if they continue with their music they will become excellent 'cause they know where their inspiration comes from.  This is neat, "I see you fly through my mind/For just a fraction of time/But that's all I desire to keep me grooving".

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