The dance hall divas who harmonized the way for other girl bee-bop groups in the 1990s have now emerged with their latest funky-lush offering, "EV3" like a phoenix from ashes of a smoldering fire which almost extinguished them.
After rumors of the quartet's break-up and almost five years away from the recording studio, "EV3" is En Vogue's concession to the musical world -- an album which shows a remarkable change from their previous releases and is somewhat vacuous with the loss of Dawn Robinson.
Robinson was one of the group's four founders and left to pursue other projects. Sans Robinson, En Vogue manages to keep the album together ... barely.
In some respects, the album represents trademark En Vogue. However, it lacks the classical verve which listeners have come to enjoy. The sound that the group has developed comes a la Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, two producers/arrangers who have worked with En Vogue on their two previous outings, "Born to Sing" and "Funky Divas."
However, with this album, En Vogue tries and fails to manipulate their long-coveted hit-producing formula -- tight harmonies, danceable tracks and youthful chic. Experimenting with different sounds -- acoustic guitar, stereo processors and three voices instead of four, the end product is spiritless.
Hoping to win back fans one groove at a time, En Vogue's first track, "Whatever," shows top-10 promise and is probably the only veritable hit from the compact disc that has received so much publicity.
The song highlights the strong vocals of Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron Braggs molded over a thumping bass-line and eerie vocal sample rift. The track is produced by uber-entertainment giant and musical genius Babyface.
The second track, first recorded on the "Set It Off" soundtrack, is "Don't Let Go (Love)" which features Robinson and the other members of the group crooning about the pitfalls of love: "What you gonna be because I can't pretend/don't you want to be more than friends/hold me tight and don't let go/you have a right to lose control."
Other tracks on the album at first show promise, then slowly fizzle out like alka-seltzer in a plastic cup. These track include, "Love Makes You Do Thangs" and "Let it Flow."
Although the vocals may be there, the intensity and dynamism are long gone.
"EV3," billed as the "fiercest chapter yet in the legendary En Vogue story" in the liner notes of the compact disc is only a tame interlude in En Vogue's still-developing future.
Studded with entertaining ditties and two great tracks, the record as a whole is lackluster at best.
The album represents a different direction for the group and change is always good. However, fans will probably balk at "EV3" and all its pretentiousness.
