One of the finest dance-oriented efforts of 1994, this CD underscores the fact that the most memorable dance music isn't just about the beat and the track, and makes vocal personality a high priority. Like
Gloria Gaynor and
Loleatta Holloway in the 1970s,
Michael Watford is a big-voiced wailer who never takes a back seat to tracks or production. When the gritty, hard-edged singer/composer tears into "Happy Man," "Love Me Tonight" and "Michael's Prayer" as well as a soaring remake of
L.T.D.'s "Love To the World," it's clear that he has paid close attention to the likes of
Teddy Pendergrass and
the O'Jays' Eddie Levert. The tracks may be slick and high-tech, but
Watford's confident belting is consistently mindful of dance music's soul and gospel heritage. Had
Otis Redding lived long enough to record house music, perhaps it would have sounded something like this dynamic CD. When you get down to it,
Watford is very much a soul singer. ~ Alex Henderson