‘In My City’ by Ralf GUM review

In My City, what an amazing album.

Tracklist:

01. With Her Hand (feat. Hugh Masekela)
02. Our Love Is A Star (feat. Jocelyn Mathieu)
03. A Brighter Dream (feat. Kafele)
04. Free (Is All I Wanna Be) (feat. Portia Monique)
05. The Pap (feat. Monique Bingham)
06. In The City (feat. Hugh Masekela)
07. Bi ‘na ba n’jo (feat. Dele Sosimi)
08. My Angel (feat. KB)
09. Love Core (feat. Omar)
10. The Best Thing (feat. Lee Bling)

#InMyCity by @ralfgum is worth it

— Yule (@YuleD) October 27, 2014

To say Ralf GUM is a House Music producer is to box him. After listening to his album, for me, he is a producer, who happens to be known for House Music and whichever genre of music he would have been in, he would have shined.

In My City shows the different sounds of “Johannesburg” but starts from the roots of House Music with an influence of Smooth Jazz, a touch on Broken Beat, a sort of Groovy House that ruled in UK in the late 90’s (I was really young then) and Soulful House, which is what Ralf GUM has been known for in the recent years.

The album isn’t mixed, each track stands alone and that’s perfect because each track on the album is so powerful and has its own story to tell.

Now if I can remember correctly, Ralf GUM rarely makes work that doesn’t contain vocals and over the years he has been known to work well with Monique Bingham but what is truly amazing is that in this album, he is able to take each vocalist he works with, to a higher level. Each track features vocals that go so well with the beat, you can’t help but acknowledge his experience and talent.

The thing that I appreciated and loved most about the album is that he didn’t just work with a known formula, he experimented. He understood that to truly grow, he has to try new things, work with different vocalists and beats, so even though you can hear his sound signature amongst different tracks, you can also hear a new Ralf GUM at work.

I understand why Hugh Masekela would work with him, I mean Mr Masekela doesn’t just work with anyone.

Honestly, I have no favourite tracks from this album, it’s truly that great that I can’t pick out individual songs and say they are better than the other. I do know that some of my favourite DJs will be playing some of the songs and a lot of them will be featured in compilations and podcasts.

The sounds of ‘In My City‘ may have a strong South African influence but this album shows the different sounds of the House Music as a Nation. It tells you of the journey of House Music from its origins to the purest form of it now.

To everyone that was involved in the making of the album, they have made a truly outstanding album. It’s rare to find House Music that was made to be beautiful and not a dance floor hit in these times. They have done just that here, made a beautiful album.