Brother and sister duo, Kathreese and Jerry Barnes, landed their 1985 album Stateside on the Private I imprint, although it was released here in the UK on Epic. Hot from his work on Kleeer, producer Eumir Deodato got to work on this slamming album of club orientated tunes, the most popular of which seeing release here and in the US as a 12” single, “Sugar Free”. This song is an absolute classic and very much similar in tempo to The Controllers' “Stay”; both slinky, sexy and dirty-groove cuts if ever there was one. Soul boys and girls took this song with it's clever twist on words totally to heart and proved a popular choice for inclusion in the 1990s on the Wind Down zone compilation courtesy of Ralph Tee and Elevate records. The crashing and bashing Morse-code dance beat of “Bad Boy” was contemporary and aimed purely at radio, which is understandable. A pleasant track and an example of synth soul of it's time. Far superior to that is the title track of the album, “It Takes Two”, which really is a classy, classy mid tempo floater with plenty of spaced out-beats and slap bass courtesy of Jerry Barnes. If you don't know this song, then a few spins would easily have it under your skin and in your brain. Try shaking the chorus off then! I also heartily recommend the soulful “Slow Dancing”and the wonderful foot-tapper “Forever And Ever”, the prototype groove for their 1987 gem “After Loving You”. I completely adore these songs and still refer to them more often than not. It's about time this duo saw the light of day again with a new set. They have excellent musical skills, and can without doubt provide more than capable vocal chores. With all the recent comebacks such as The Embers, Little Anthony and so on from a previous generation, I would like to think that time and chance is very much in favour for 80s acts who are 'missing in action'. As for this set, it was reissued on CD in Japan in 2001 so it may be possible to find one!
Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe
