Remy Shand packs soul
into his CD stylings

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By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

This CD has been out since mid-March and is reportedly a sleeper hit for this young Canadian whose neo-soul stylings make him sound like the love child of Marvin Gaye, Prince and Curtis Mayfield.

Comparisons are inevitable to another soulful white boy, Jamiroquai, but I think Shand gives him a good run for his money, plus he was discovered by Motown's president Kedar Massenburg, who recognized the immense talents of Erykah Badu, India.Arie and D'Angelo.

"The Way I Feel" is smooth groove all the way, with soft love just oozing out every pore of Shand's music. Shand plays practically every instrument on this album, and it's definitely old school in approach -- wah-wah guitar, the warmth of a Wurlitzer electric piano or a clavinet and analog synthesizers.

"The Way I Feel" Remy Shand (Motown/Universal)

The current single "Take a Message" is indicative of the album's entire vibe. The follow-up single, "Rocksteady," shows Shand channeling Al Green and that feel-good Memphis soul backbeat.

But Shand is adept enough that he can step away from slavishly aping his mentors' sound, and songs like "Liberate" and the album-closing "The Mind's Eye" show a more aggressive direction his music could go in the future.

In the meantime, this is perfect music for head noddin' and finger snappin'.

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