More than 20 years have passed since dub techno project Rhythm & Sound released w/ The Artists. Back then, producers Mark Ernestus and Moritz von Oswald collaborated with reggae vocalists like Cornell Campbell, Jennifer Lara or Jah Batta to create what would become a classic of electronic music. One voice that couldn’t be missing was Paul St. Hilaire, who had already recorded Rhythm & Sound’s debut LP with the duo in 1998 – under his earlier moniker Tikiman. Since then, his voice has become a signature sound of club music: a warm, husky and always subtle tone that producers like Deadbeat and Rhauder have wrapped in bass-heavy tracks for years.
On his latest album, Paul St. Hilaire flips the w/ The Artists concept on its head. This time, it’s not producers inviting vocalists – it’s his voice that takes the lead, with a rotating cast of producers behind him, each bringing a different approach to dub-based club music. The collaborators range from Mala, Batu and Azu Tiwaline to Shinichi Atobe and Russell E.L. Butler. Some let the bass drum drag heavily across the floor, others opt for tighter, bouncing four-to-the-floor beats. Of course, reverb and echo are used by all. And Paul St. Hilaire holds it all together with unwavering composure.
