Future Now

アーバン&スペイシーなディスコ～フュージョン・ファンク満載の79年作!それまでWayne Henderson(ex.Crusaders)のプロデュースを受けてジャズファンク的な要素も強かった彼らだが、初めてセルフ・プロデュースした本作は、フュージョン的な洗練されたディスコ・ファンク～ブギー・サウンドを確立、80年代へと繋がるアーバンなブラック・コンテンポラリー・サウンドが満載だ。彼ら最大のヒット曲「Glide」や、Big Daddy Kaneネタでもあるアーバン・メロウ・グルーヴM-8 「Thoughts of Old Flames」も収録!

Arguably, the members of Pleasure were among the unsung heroes of 1970s funk and soul. The band enjoyed a small but enthusiastic cult following, but one thing that it didn't have was a lot of major hits on R&B radio. For the most part, R&B radio ignored Pleasure, although quiet storm formats did play some of its more mellow album tracks. The exception to that rule came in 1979, when black radio proved to be quite receptive to "Glide." A pearl of a funk single, "Glide" is an infectious party jam that the African-American working class easily related to. The tune isn't really sociopolitical, although it isn't mindlessly fun either -- essentially, "Glide" is telling listeners to hang in there and be positive despite the challenges that life presents. And you don't have to be African-American to relate to the song's message. "Glide" was the only song on Future Now that could be called a major hit, although it isn't the album's only gem. Those who acquired this 1979 LP also found a lot to admire about jazz-influenced material that ranges from funk smokers like "Nothin' to It" and "Space Is the Place" to the smooth quiet storm offerings "Strong Love" and "Thoughts of Old Flames." Without question, Future Now is among Pleasure's most essential albums. ~ Alex Henderson