Review of "Tongue In Chic" in FUNK magazine No. 1, January 1983, p. 12-13. (Grade: 3 stars)
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CHIC-Tongue In Chic
Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers is on this record leaving the rock experiment and looser attitude of the last album "Take It Off" and returns to their old classic sound which had some success earlier this year on their soundtrack "Soup For One." It was fun to once again listen to the elegant and sophisticated style of the title track and Fonzi Thornton's "I Work For A Livin'," even if none of them were a "new" "Le Freak" or "Good Times." In the late '70s Chic's hypnotic dance/soul formula were style forming (compare with Prince and Rick James today) and are today integrated as an essential part in the modern soul style. Just listen to Luther Vandross' records. And it's this fact that's Chic's dilemma. The creators is suffering because you can hear their sound in much of today's music – Nile Rodgers suggestive, riff guitarplay, Bernard Edwards floating, pulsating bass line and the girls sharp chorus. It's now several years since their last pop hit. On this record one's most successful on the funky single "Hangin'" (video) with jazzy sax play by Robert Arron and on the subtle "Hey Fool" which probably has the album's strongest melody which shows that Chic's still most effective when pursuing simplicity. With Alfa Anderson or Luci Martin on seductive vocals over a bubbly granular carpet of rhythm. "I Feel Your Love Comin' On" possesses a catchy chorus and leaves ample space for heavy bass play from Edwards and a show from Rodgers. Add to it that Tony Thompson is a first rate drummer with a technique studied by many. "I Feel" is a bit too long though. "When You Love Someone" is a ballad that in the final minutes accelerates to full speed. It does not, however compare with the amiable "A Warm Summernight" from the "Risqué" album. Chic is again using strings, a striking feature of their earlier hits (though not used at all on "Take It Off"), on the rap-garnished "Chic (Everybody Say)". A boring thing which recalls "Chic Cheer" off the "Cést Chic" album. Lively "City Lights" is more striking and gives Rodgers an opportunity to virtuous, George Benson-like, guitar play, at the same time Edwards offers us a tremendous bass solo – there's muscle in the man's play! Edwards and Rodgers has of course composed everything on "Tongue In Chic". But the task of matching their unforgettable albums of 1978 & 1979 is supposedly, almost impossible...
-Translated from Swedish by pocat-
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