Raheem has wears his heart on his sleeve on must-hear debut opus ‘The Love Experience’; every scar is revealed and open wounds weep at his heartfelt torment. Similarly this introductory single is a profoundly penned journal that intertwines his soul-drenched vocal with a lush production courtesy of Kenny Dope. Built around a red-hot classic soul groove from Creative Source’s ‘You Can’t Hide Love’, this smooth head-nodder, constructed on a foundation of delicate piano lines and insinuating percussion, neatly bridges the gap between successive r&b generations reaching for comparisons to the likes of the Ronald Isleys and Van Hunt in his silky tones. The addition of the Princely ‘Who’ with echoes of ‘Purple Rain’ only further adds to demonstrate the man’s vocal dexterity. “The first time I heard Raheem I felt the spirit of Marvin in him,” proclaims the great man’s daughter Sherill Gaye, and you can’t buy a recommendation like that. Sublime soul music!
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Lewis Dene
