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This is the Stee Downes debut album All In A Day! A truely beautiful stripped back soul influenced album, that puts summer in your heart and a smile on your face. It’s joyous. Stee says, “The album is based around a simplistic and direct approach to melody, rhythm, emotion and message”.

So who is Stee Downes? He’s a Dubliner, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, record label boss and future mega star. For more info, see FLY’s ‘update’ on Stee HERE with the release of the single, the album opener ‘Ausnder’.

And just to prove that Stee and his musical partner Ishfaq have got what it takes, what balls they have to do a cover of Letta Mbulu’s classic ‘What’s Wrong With Groovin’. Thier version is so simple and chilled, even when they pick up the tempo into a summery samba, it’s still lazin’. In fact, this track sets the scene for the rest of the album that are all Stee’s original compositions.

He says, “there is an underlying bittersweet feeling” to the songs. You get that with tracks like ‘When I’m Feeling’, ‘I’m Telling You’ and, of course, ‘Destruction Of Ourselves’ that finishes off both this album and Sonar Kollektiv’s Secret Love 5 complilation. Check the lyrics of ‘Put A Little Love In My Soul’, “I can make the payments on time, I can sell my soul for real”; the first post credit crunch love song anthem?

What I get out of the album most is Stee’s summer soul vocals (this album has sounded it’s best when the sun has been out) and the folky-soul, jazz, funk theme. They even have a go a disco on ‘Discipiles’ and ‘Movement’ (well more like Jamiroquai actually) but the tracks that stand out are the more downtempo like ‘Obviously’ (lovely use of the strings) and ‘Destruction Of Ourselves’.

Back in 2006, as a live act he supported live Amp Fiddler, Bugz In The Attic and Money Mark so he’s really rather excited about his band and their upcoming gigs; especially Roy Ayres!

Would comparisons to Terry Callier be too bold? Perhaps tempered with some modern day life issues of a John Matthias? Whatever it is, be thankfull that Sonar Kollektiv have let us have this great album and be prepared for Stee Downes on tour.

Forthcoming Live
15 Nov 2008 Rainer Truby - support (DJ Set) Dublin
16 Nov 2008 Fat Freddys Drop - Support Dublin
06 Dec 2008 Live @ External Sounds Louth
20 Dec 2008 Album launch with Jazzanova, Dublin
22 Dec 2008 Roy Ayers (Support), Dublin

Reviewed: Stee Downes - All In A Day (Sonar Kollektiv) Cat. NO. SK203CD Release date: 20th October 2008
Tracklisting
1. Asunder (5:49)
2. What’s Wrong With Groovin’ (3:46)
3. Put A Little Love In My Soul (4:32)
4. Disciples (4:10)
5. Obviously (5:42)
6. When I’m Feeling (6:45)
7. I’m Telling You (4:59)
8. Movement (5:41)
9. A Need For Something Else (4:28)
10. Destruction Of Ourselves (5:27)

Links
www.myspace.com/steedownesmusic
www.myspace.com/ishfaq
www.myspace.com/kisseyasplund
www.sonarkollektiv.de
www.myspace.com/sonarkollektiv
www.myspace.com/scribbleproductions
Electric Pinic 2009 4, 5 & 6th September - early bird tickets available from 10th October
www.electricpicnic.ie