Thought I'd dig deep into the archives for a review I wrote back in 2003 on Jody Watley's Midnight Lounge. Even though the write-up, originally published in The Empty Closet, is over three years old, it still resonates today. Watley will re-emerge in 2006 with a remix project of her hits, but 'till then do yourself a favor and buy Midnight Lounge now.

And yes, this blogs' name was inspired by this album. Even MORE of a reason to check it!

Watley turns down the blinds for a night of chillout

What's an artist to do when formulated records begin topping the charts and established acts are released from their contracts? Go deep and get independent, and that's just what this girl has done. Jody Watley has weathered the good and the bad. Working independently and fusing deep house with late-night chill, her new LP "Midnight Lounge" finds Watley sipping vodka & seven in the corner, pulsing to a sophisticated rhythm.

"Midnight Lounge" grooves to the after-hours vibe, with the opening title track setting the tone. The jazz-infused cadence beckons the listener to begin the weekend, even if press play is on a Tuesday. The mantra of the song is captured in Watley's lyrics: "all I wanna do is just dance / all I wanna do is just dance..."

Recruiting deep house legend Dave Warrin for "Whenever" and "Photographs," Watley knows a thing or two about balancing the weight between the microphone; a savvy vocalist is as good as her producer. The tracks shine and sound just as good on the floor as they do in the lounge. Resisting circuit-style yearnings, Watley's approach is swanky. In fact, producers of the album have a résumé any dance fan can appreciate (given work with Janet Jackson, Ultra Naté, Kim English, Funky Green Dogs).

Originally released as part of a Japanese import, "Saturday Night Experience" plugs into ambient house with a jazz piano and a thump in tow. "I Love to Love," a throwback to the '70s, captures everything that was good about disco.

Sensual and hypnotic, the trip-hop jams of "Skin Deep" and "More" balance out the dance fare on the album.

The most revealing track on the collection wasn't penned by Watley. "Don't Give Up," a Peter Gabriel remake, allows Watley to release herself from the pitfall of pop success . The lush production and hushed urgency conjures the same feeling as the signature melancholy of Everything But the Girl. The manifesto of the track resonates: "Don't give up / You're not beaten yet / Don't give up / 'cause somewhere there's a place where we belong."

Sequencing aside, "Midnight Lounge" is a stellar release. Reflective and relevant, Watley has successfully found the deeper rhythm of nightlife. Released on the indie label Avitone, the album, spared from being run through a corporate filter, glimmers with just the right amount of energy for a mellow but groovable evening. Let's hope the release finds the audience it deserves; the careless whisper in Watley's voice resounds with that familiar feeling of survival. "Don't give up / I know you can make it."

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Visit Jody online here and here.
Download the 2005 Rocasound mix of "Looking for a New Love" here.