Product Description

Having established himself as a primary torchbearer for theromanticism of vintage 70's soul, Maxwell uses his third album EMBRYA to tread the same path as Al Green, walking the tightrope between spirituality and sensuality. On selections with some rather tongue-twisting titles, Maxwell takes the business of love and relationships seriously. Awash in Barry White-influenced arrangements, "I'm You: You Are Me And We Are You (pt me & you)" looks at all of humanity combining to form a higher consciousness.
Elsewhere, the young vocalist uses "Luxury: Cococure" to bid adieu to a dead affair and greet the possibilities of getting to know himself, as a creamy beat pulses throughout the song. Between his delicate falsetto, innumerable quiet interludes and his re-teaming withSade sideman Stuart Matthewman, the romance oozing from this record makes Maxwell's EMBRYA the soundtrack to a quiet storm of erotic interaction.

Track Listing

1. Gestation/Mythos
2. Everwanting/To Want You To Want
3. I'm You/You Are Me And We Are You
4. Luxury/Cococure
5. Drowndeep/Hula
6. Matrimony/Maybe You
7. Arroz Con Pollo
8. Know These Things/Shouldn't You
9. Submerge/Til We Become The Sun
10. Gravity/Pushing To Pull

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34193 in Music
• Released on: 2001-12-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The bass line of the opening track is the first sign, and the smooth funk of the second track confirms it: On Embrya, Maxwell has done it again. Sophomore efforts don't always fare well, especially when an artist is still riding high on the accolades of a debut, but Maxwell has managed to take the exquisite soul of 1996's Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite and, without sacrificing any of its verve, turn it into something far more sophisticated. Not only is Embrya a sublime summer soundtrack, it's a groove masterpiece from start to finish. "Luxury: Cococure", the first single, like "'Til the Cops Come Knockin'" before it, is only the slightest taste of the treasures waiting to be devoured. If you're looking for lush ballads, skip to "Matrimony: Maybe You", the haunting "Know These Things: Shouldn't You", and the sensual slow jam "Gravity: Pushing to Pull" (and yes, nearly all the tracks are subtitled like this). They may not be as yearning as those that detailed his weekend-long tryst on Hang Suite (Maxwell knows better than anyone just how far a little restraint can go), but these tracks are gifts on their own. Put them together and you have an album that does nothing but elevate Maxwell's impeccable reputation as the man who breathed life back into the soul of R&B.--Rebecca Wallwork

Customer Reviews

Materpeice!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was surpised to read that this album received mixed reviews, because whilest' Urban Hang Suite proved Maxwell's style, this album seems te real him, in terms of writing in his poetic tone and the album itself, is an album that seems to take you on a jounrey, at first i was a bit skeptic and didn't really pay attention to it, until i discoered track numebr 7, know these things you shouldn't, and the song totally was amazing, the lyrics, the emotion again, which is the main reaosn i like Maxwell, for his honesty, the whyole album seems like on the artwork a journey in the ocean, the album ahs a real live feel to it, and is really relacing, and vocally terrific, this is Maxwell's best studio album to date, not couting MTV Unplugged, it truely deserves more recognition then it got, its a deffinet must buy! a true masterpeice, that should be stored in everyone's cd collection is you know good music!

Max Marks for Maxwell
I don't know much about Maxwell. Just that he seems to be this cool character who struts his stuff in his videos.
So when I got hold of a copy of this album I was interested to see what it could produce.
And I was very pleased at the outcome.
Its a fantastic album and one which I love chilling out too.

Track 1
Ever Wanting To Want You To Want
The bass kicks in here big style. Its got such a funked beat and this opening track was the track which sold the album too me.
Its such a cool song and one of my favourites.
Maxwell vocally is superb with some real sexy lyrics.

Track 2
I'm You: You Are Me and We Are You
Another heavy bassed track. The funky feel keeps flowing, but this song is different.
Maxwell sings the first verse in Spanish. Spanish is a sexy language and it is fitting that Maxwell delievers the first verse this way. Top Stuff

Track 3
Luxury: Cocoure
This song was a single and I vaugly remembered it. Its such a good track. Its Lyrically better than the previous two (not taking anything away from them though)Another Maxwell cool track

Track 4
Drowndeep: Hula
This is more of a ballad. Its a beautiful track, and one which when I heard it, I just stopped doing anything and listened to the beautiful words and the amazing voice Maxwell has.

Track 5
Matrimony: Maybe You
The most upbeat song on this set. Its such a funky groove. Once again Lyrically Maxwell is so on form. This song has a great little guitar rift which really enhances the track.

Track 6
Arroz Con Pollo
This is an instrumental which has mixed from Track 5. When I first heard it, I hadn't noticed we were into another track as I thought that it was just playing on from Track 5. Its funky, its a bit of an interlude.

Track 7
Know These Things: Shouldn't You
His voice is just amazing here. Its another ballad type track, with more beautiful lyrics. Hes such a cool customer.

Track 8
Submerge: Till we become the Sun
One of the albums big highlights. Its a track which I love. Everything is right about it. Lyrics, vocals and music.

Track 9
Gravity - Push To Pull
Probably the weakest track the album has to offer. But to be honest its hard to fault any of the tracks. This is very good, but I just think musically and lyrically it lacks what the others do so well.

Track 10.
Eachhoureachsecondeachminuteeachday
Bit of mouthful is the title. But the song itself is another top draw effort. Cool and realaxed is the tone. It works.

Track 11

Embrya
Er.. not really a track. Not really an instrumental either! Just a fusion of a few strange noises!
Interesting though!

Overall
Excellent.
Maxwell is a real cool performer. There are many great Nu-Soul artists out there (Musiq, Jaheim, Joe,) and Maxwell is up there with the best of them. He is lyrically better than most though and this album is testement to his talents.

Sexy, Sexy, Sexy; oh and some of the most slammin of tunes!
When I first heard this album I just wasn't sure. What I mean to say is it just diddn't grab me by the scruff of the neck! Well I've listened to it alot, and not only has it grabbed me by the scruff of the neck it has thrown me out the door and into several unknown galaxies! It can suite every mood, the most ideal, is not being alone with the lights down low. Maxwells' voice is an undiscovered musical instrument. It would be easy to say that the production is superb, but basically Maxwell could make "God save the Queen" sound sensual. Buy it, and listen to it, several times, and you will know what I'm waxing lyrical about. Soul, funk and R&B; what a delicious concoction of melodies.