It is amazing to see what Phonte and Nicolay have built for themselves. Working off of a whim and musical kinship, they collaborated for the first Foreign Exchange album Connected. However, that was more of a compilation album. Breaking things down into a dynamic duo, they dropped Leave It All Behind in 2008. After that came the accolades, tours, Grammy nominations, and a strong cult following. Years later (with another album in the form of Authenticity), they have cemented themselves as mainstays in the R&B genre.

 

Reworks works as a precursor to their upcoming album Love In Flying Colors. What is really is, nonetheless, is a sheer demonstration of how damn good they are at creating great music.

 

Let’s keep it frank: this may be one of the better R&B releases this year. Oh, and it’s a bunch of remixes (for the most part). That says a lot.

 

What the Foreign Exchange wasn’t afraid to do was try to experiment with their sound. The dubstep interlude on “The Last Fall” takes the song to new heights and experiences. Ahmed Sirour makes “All The Kisses” an easily danceable groove. Additionally, the Sheldon Williams remix to “Ball and Chain” gives the song a more robust synthesized feel. Avoiding the trite and redundant, each remix makes the song anew again.

 

Even when they step away from their own group music, they make worthy concoctions for someone’s earbuds. Nicolay’s remix of RJD2’s Kenna featured “Games You Can Win” changes it from a synth heavy ditty to a soulful piano driven melody of serenity. Vikter Duplaix gets the remix treatment for his electronic “Electric Love” with an almost groovy 80’s feel. Deborah Bond’s “Say It” gets a drum and bass remix that fully detracts from its original R&B form. In turn, just because the artists aren’t their usual collaborators doesn’t keep Nicolay and company from making great use of their talents.

 

Rarely hit and miss and never boring, The Reworks is just that: an album of R&B reworking. Instead of keeping it typical, the Foreign Exchange pushes the margins of their sound. Some songs are the usual fare. However, many of the remixes change the entire feel and expectation of the track. Eventually, what listeners are given is a rededication with old stuff made fresh again.

 

Don’t miss out on this album or you may regret it later.

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