Ty causey - Down II Earth - 2010 - Tyvonn

"Down II Earth" rates of the best album yet from the super-cool, mighty confident and ultra-soulful Ty Causey. The musical road that Ty Causey travels is still a very smooth, dependable one and we will all want to keep tagging along, as the set is one that doesn't fail to impress. The journey theme is one that kicks the album off, the sexy and rhythmic "Rocket To The Moon" nods it's head towards Marvin Gaye / Leon Ware's collaborative work as far as harmonies go, and the sweet sax gives us more than a little bit of classic pizazz. we all remember the days when sax played a big part in soul music. Sadly, any form of music with real instruments - sax especially - is, crazily, classed as "Smooth Jazz". NO! This is not smooth jazz - or any kind of Jazz for that matter. If it were smooth Jazz I'd be dribbling down my top in a stupor by the end of track one! LOL. Let's start reclaiming real music and Ty starts off with a cracking reminder that instruments such as sax should - and indeed can be - included in today's R&B. The superb ballad "A Place In Your Heart" makes a real Strong stand and harks back to the early 1990s. His vocal performance really makes it's presence felt and the male backing vocals and bluesy guitar add up to something good and proper too.

A funkier Ty Causey struts his stuff on the title track, a lowdown dirty bassline and flute grace this song, readying itself for the jazzy, sexy and mesmerising "Any Means Necessary". You're gonna love this song - hopefully you have heard this on the radio and have been impressed enough to order a copy of the album. Ty plays with melody intimately here, and there is light and shade, texture and flavour. This song is full-bodied, chunky and extremely toothsome. If this song isn't enough to satisfy your craving for soul food then please check out the luxuriant "Recognise" and the super-cool "Deep Inside"...this has to be one of the classiest, more-ish and delicately sensual song that Ty has laid down and it's full of erotic promise...then we come to the funkier "Living On The Borderline"; a track that offers some real dancefloor appeal. For me, another real highlight is the superb "Start Again" and atmospheric "Love To The Bone" which leads us nicely - and perfectly - to "I Wanna Know About Love". You and me both, Ty. Damned if I understand it - if it actually exists at all! This is yet another strong release for which I have nothing but praise and can therefore heartily recommend a purchase!

Barry Towler,

The Vibe Scribe

Ty Causey - True Love In Motion

I once wrote that Ty Causey was 'dependable' and 'consistent'. Yet again the great Man delivers the goods. In fact, this is probably his best work to date! Vocally he is kicking some real dirt up, and the sturdy and soulful production is worth it's weight in gold. Vocally I hear more dynamism too with touches of Willie Collins in places, especially when Ty really propels himself. Ty is an artist I have always supported and for all the right and proper reasons. Buy a Ty Causey album and what you get are these: 1. Quality soulful music 2. fantastic vocals and 3. consistency. Neither do I tire of the man's style either. At times when some artists try and sound like everyone else to sell a few copies, Ty is true and steadfast. Respect due. Ty asks if we can “Chill 2Nite” - and the answer is a resounding yes! The great man almost croons around his Lady with silky smoothness and yet the music almost sounds urgent and predatory, the rhythm sexy and anticipatory like a thumping heartbeat. Ty reveals great truths within his musical fabrics. His words may be smooth but the power that his words conceal are raw, unrefined and purely carnal. There is where the soul is revealed and the passion allowed to bet lose. Magical! “Closer To Your Love” is yet another quality cut and seriously does the business, ranking as some of the man's best recordings to date.
“Gotta Be” is another song I can especially pinpoint for praise. The muted trumpet is spot-on and takes me back in memory to Blackstreet's brilliant “Tonight's The Night”. Ty takes on a jazzier, scat approach with “Soundz Of Muzic”with an ode to making music, feeling music and delivering music. The lyric s are right there – he puts into song exactly how I feel about music and how it touches me. Again, the words are powerful and the vocals are soulful and smooth. Brilliant. Following this, and all that's been said, we approach “True Love In Motion” with a sharpened mind and more open heart. Immediately the eerie keys and sexy, deep resounding bassline wraps around you and blots out anything else. Talk about the power of music! I'm a sucker for the jolly old flute, and already I am sold on the warm, summery “I Still Get Butterflies”. I can certainly hear a touch of Willie Collins here and this does nothing but make the package that is Ty Causey even more of a special product. “The Love Of My Life” takes the album onwards and forever upwards with strong sax and the 80s inspired “Golden Girl”reminds me, musically, of Atlantic Starr's “Don't Quit On Me Now”. The final cut, “Make This Moment Last” is a KILLER with vocals similar to the great Michael Jeffries. Very much in the style of THOSE classy early 90s ballads. You know the ones – the ones we miss so much. What more to say than snap this set up. Essential

Barry Towler

Ty Causey - Body Language

Ty Causey can be summed up in one word. Dependable. If you were won over with his first album, “N-Tycing” and loved his “Love Notes” and “Expressions” sets, then this too will become a staple part of your Ty Causey soul food diet. This is a very limited and unofficial release which is a rare collection of songs for those who love his music, and were recorded at the same time as his excellent “Expressions” session. What I liked about that aforementioned album was that the groove was more evident, it had more kick than “Love Notes” and was all the spicier for it. Carrying on from that winning formula is “Body Language”. Sure, the smoothness you would expect is there, but the beats, the basslines and melodies have a greater earthiness and raunchiness that really appeals to me. The smooth opening song entices with very sexy lyrics, and spoken from a man who certainly is proficient in the art of reading body language. As for me, I could be launched upon by a girl with a neon sign flashing “take me I'm yours” (as if!) and still not notice. Subtle is Ty's middle name. “It's Just A Fantasy” gets into a higher gear, yet still allows the silky smooth vocal adopt its front of the line position. Ty almost sounds like Oliver Cheatham on here...the melody reminiscent of Oliver's unreleased 1994 Zygo Records gem “You Don't Have To Hurt No More”. Another song that will greatly appeal to you as well, I feel, is the sensuous groove of “Hot Tonight”, the warm bassline and almost inaudible synth add to the mystery of the track, the anticipation for the culmination of the encounter with his Lady. So impressive is the EXCELLENT slow grind of “Set You Free”. Nicely worded song, too, and makes me feel that Ty is a bottomless pit of intelligent lyrics. Lovers of sax – as am I – should approve of the slinky, almost bluesy “When You're In Love” - this is total quality and easily on par with any of the best cuts from “Expressions”. I find the deep, resonant bassline that Ty favours to be quite erotic. Check the dirty bassline used on “You'll Never Be Lonely”. This, and his soaring, almost Alexander O'Neal like quaver on this should get a few unnecessary reactions from female fans! This is used to great affect on the seductive “Dinner, Wine, Candlelight”leaving the listener in no doubt what his intentions are, and that is NOT watching the eternal coverage of the US Presidential campaign. The bouncy “Are We Vibin'” has an excellent ability to get the bass pins trembling, and the beats very much in the early 80s scene, the sax licking away at the bassline frivolously and Ty letting lose his imagination on what to do with his Lady. Great stuff! With “Nice And Slow” - the title sort of gives the game away – the tempo drops and certainly delivers on the ballad front. The curtain closer is of equal weight and will not, I'm sure, disappoint. Ty's fourth outing does not surprise, but yet again does not disappoint. Like Will Downing, we know what we're going to get and I find that rather warming.

Barry Towler

Buy on CD-Baby

Ty Causey - Expressions - Tyvonn Records/ISPYSOUL music

This gentle 12 tracker has been winning acclaim for a while now and its easy to hear why, ‘cos ‘Expressions’ is a lovely, laid back piece of modern soul – absolutely perfect for those special quiet storm moments. Causey’s written and produced the whole thing himself and its clear he knows what kind of material suits his warm, sensual voice. The bulk of the cuts here are all ballads with the most ‘up’ item being the post-intro opener, ‘I Got Love’. The song’s just about mid-tempo with pulsing beats that remind me of the Chucki Booker epic ‘Games’. There’s a similar feel to ‘So Addicted’ while ‘Wishing You Were Mine’ is almost Latin in its lightness, with some lovely flute. Its hard though to pick particular standouts ‘cos album’s like this one are all about an overall feeling rather than big blockbusting moments. That said, the complex ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ demands attention with its lovely piano/vibe instrumental section. Speaking of which, our old mate U-Nam adds his effective Benson-style guitar to ‘Dark Cloud’, but its Mr. C’s vocal and production skills that carry the day. Odd though it might sound, the whole album reminds me of Anita Baker’s early albums - warm, sensual and very intimate, and with 12 tracks, length –wise it’s just right.

Bill Buckley

Buy on CD-Baby