In the early 1990s, London-based The Brand New Heavies created a musical movement by bringing soul music back to live instrumentation and impassioned vocals. With sassy, soulful and emotive vocalist N'Dea Davenport, the band built their sound around the music they loved: classic American funk and soul music. After the band scored a No. 3 hit with "Never Stop," the band released their second album, 1992's Heavy Rhyme Experience: Vol. 1, which featured Grand Puba, Kool G. Rap and Gang Starr's Guru, among others. The group's third album, 1994's Brother Sister, continued the momentum with big crossover hits "Dream On Dreamer" and "Midnight At The Oasis" and established the Heavies as a creative and commercial force whose influence helped birth the neo-soul movement.
After pursuing a solo career, the return of N'Dea Davenport (with whom the band created their debut self titled album and Brother Sister in the early/mid 90s) is creating a major stir amongst their fans. The Heavies spell out their musical mission on Get Used To It's delightfully festive "Right On," as Davenport sings: "Bring back the funk in music/Put back the funk in music." With stellar horn arrangements and a fluid bass groove, the tune is equal parts mantra and declaration. She then ponders the reason for her devotion to her cheating beau on the impassioned "Don't Know Why (I Love You)." Whether Davenport sings about the joy of love, the pain of a fractured relationship or her allegiance to music, the Heavies' striking arrangements make for sonic nirvana. Their precise mix of percussion, horns, keyboards, guitars, piano and bass, as well as Davenport's memorable vocals, yields an exhilarating musical experience both on record and live. (Tour Dates | "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" (Live Video))
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