In The Dark (Bonus Track Edition)

'In The Dark' was produced by Stanley Clarke in 1984. With Grover Washington and Tom Browne as the main horn players the album is about the perfect mix of slick mid 80's boogie funk and the kind of jazz-funk Roy pioneered a decade earlier on the title song,"Sexy,Sexy Sexy" and the late in the day disco-funk of "Compadre". "I Can't Help It" is a mild vibe led ballad. But the most potent track to me would "Goree Island",a sizzling electronic afro-funk number celebrating what I'll call....the rooted futurism of the jazz-funk genre itself. It's got the African polyrhythms down pat but also this 80's electro/boogie funk production too. On the more obvious deep 80's funk of "Poo Poo La La" Roy himself raps a bit about his desire for a lover who'll truly understand a musicians lifestyle and not take it personally. Great groove and wittily pointed lyric. The last two numbers "Blast The Box" and "Love Is In The Feel" are both more contemporary break dance type tunes but still with plenty of Roy's flavor.