P Bailey: “Story” forges its all-embracing prowess

Originally from the UK, P Bailey is the man known with the 5 octave range. He had his first taste of musical inspiration while taking part in music class in grade school and then went on to be influenced by the Motown and Muscle Shoals sounds. With no formal training Bailey developed his singing and writing style by listening to his favorite artists of the day, such as Ron Isley, Donny Hathaway, Luther Van Dross, Michael Jackson, Prince and James Brown. P Bailey had his first break when Rick James used a sample of his song ‘Part time Lover’ on the sound track of the movie Colors, from then on he has been called up to do to studio work and many features, as well as successfully releasing a charting EDM single called ‘Get on Board’ which went on to reach #3 on the House Dance Charts in the UK.

Now on his latest upcoming 10 track album entitled “Story”, P Bailey digs deep and goes back to some of his funk and soul roots, with the tracks being mixed into cutting edge Club and Dance themes. The album kicks off with the funk infused “Kick My Bottay”, which is as close as dammit to being the best track on the entire project. A rumbling bass line, sweet harmonies and a steamy melody will propel this tune into your sweaty mindset on first listen.

“Underrated” features forceful and distinctive singing and the piercing tone of the horn-like keyboard as well as delectable percussion flavorings. “Find Me Somebody” (Sava Boric Mix) has an eclectic Earth Wind and Fire feel in the falsetto harmonies and insistent forward-motion beat.

The Pop and RnB affected “Mystery” (Sava Boric Mix), switches its emphasis to the modern-day auto-tune twisting, which will go down a bomb with the club crowd. P Bailey steps up the heat and tempo with “The System” (Funky Euro Mix), without losing the groove or melody he holds so dear in his arrangements.

The title track “Story” forges all its electronic prowess in the beat, while P Bailey piles in multi-layered offbeat vocals. On “Free” he switches the vibe to an old school piano-driven, mid-tempo melodic croon, again filled with P Bailey’s usual trademark harmonies.

Dense and raw, “Beautiful Urban Mix” is that creative funk-soul-pop mix, you would have expected from the genial mind of Prince. Finally “Melody” brings us to P Bailey’s soul-food – the ballad – which sounds like a cross between Earth Wind & Fire and Akon, as it brings old school melody together with new school vocal effects. The album closes with the electronic banger “Day Dreaming” (Club Mix).

This album title may go above and beyond, but “Story” is definitely music that makes you want to move and groove. And P Bailey’s smooth, lilting tenor takes you all the way there. Impressive as it is, this album is just the latest chapter in P Bailey’s busy, remarkably resilient musical life.

He is an old-school artist that keeps himself relevant with modern music but still keeps it classic at the same time. Class and classic sounds go hand in hand when P Bailey is on the mic. I’m already waiting on the next album, and this one hasn’t even come out yet!

The album “Story” by P Bailey aka Paul Bailey is now available on Pre-order over at iTunes.

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