Vikter Duplaix, if you didn't know by now, is a man of many talents.
He has sung with Teddy Pendergrass, shared studios with legendary producer Kenny Gamble, has been involved as producer/remixer/vocalist in various projects by artists as renowned as DJ Jazzy Jeff, Erykah Badu, Eric Benet, Jamiroquai and King Britt, and recently made a saucy and eclectic addition to the lauded 'DJ Kicks' compilation series.
His wealth of experience and his ability to traverse musical genres and styles with ease have conspired to make Duplaix a sought after commodity in the worlds of r & b, hip hop, soul, broken beat and house, and his debut solo joint is highly anticipated on all sides.
The albums title, 'International Affairs', hints at the diversity of it's content and while it 's an LP that certainly attempts to join the dots between a variety of musical realms, the opening sequence of a landing airplane followed by a traditional African 'percussion and chant' song underlines the fact that this is a journey with a distinctly Afro-American edge.
This primitive opener is neatly updated into the computer age via the chugging studio riddims of 'What We Want', a typically heady mix of jagged bass pounds, psychedelic soul, jazzual synth and Duplaix's own distinctive, buttery vocals.
The groove-tour well on it's way, Duplaix continues to spread onwards and outwards, passing through libidinous dancefloor gestures ('Lust For Life'), modern exotica ('I Got You' and the Samba-infused 'Tropical Girl'), floor-bound nuggets ('Looking For Love'), embarrassing rock ballads ('Yesterdays Pain'), acoustic r & b/ hip hop ('Can We Be Lovers') and penetrating funk ('Morning Fun'), all driven by his intimate, swirling computer-soul.
Duplaix's lyrics and delivery - laying somewhere between the electronic pillow talk of Herbert, the socially conscious narratives of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, and the shamelessly romantic cooing that contemporary American r & b artists seem to enjoy indulging in - add to the seduction, and form a connecting thread between themes of spirituality and sex, exoticism and eroticism, ancient tattoos and modern taboos.
The aural equivalent to slipping between cool silk sheets on a hot, tropical night, 'International Affairs' is a debut album that oozes depth and sophistication from every pore and thrusts it's aching, feverish libido at us constantly. It's not a party for the weak-hearted or the un-romantic, so make sure you bring plenty of ice…
