Just short of two years since the release on Trippin N Rhythm of Paul Hardcastle’s ‘Hardcastle 8’ comes the logically titled ‘Hardcastle IX’.
All things considered ‘Hardcastle IX’ finds PH in decidedly chilled mode and none more so than with the distinctly ethereal ‘Welcome To The Morning’. Several tracks later he sends out another welcome, in fact ‘Welcome To The Beach’, that is as light and airy as the title suggests it might be. It possesses the usual Hardcastle elements of smoky sax and seductive rhythm while elsewhere the moody ‘Outside My Window’ possesses a tension that just builds and builds.
Talking of building, the six-minute plus ‘Soaring Like An Eagle’ and the equally expansive ‘Tropicool’ (which comes complete with a dazzling trumpet solo) are all about mellow urgency and when PH walks the tightrope that bridges smooth jazz with chill the result is the spine tingling ‘Universal Vibes’. The first single to be serviced to radio is the incredible ‘Latitude’ that may well finds its way onto my list of all time Hardcastle favourites and another track with radio ready written all over it is the sublime ‘Let It Go’. It glides along on an enticing mid tempo groove and in this respect is in the excellent company of the sultry yet edgy ‘Innocent’.
In similar vein is the compelling ‘Falling’ while arguably the most commercial number on ‘Hardcastle IX’ is the zesty easy on the ear ‘Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me’.
‘No Escape’, which here PH provides in two non-consecutive parts, might well be the definition of what Paul Hardcastle’s music is really all about. Part one with vocals and later part two as an instrumental, take your pick. Both have got it all going on.