Rocktrospectiva: The Innovate "World Clique" Turns 35

 

Released on 7 August 1990 "World Clique" was the debut album by American dance music band Deee-Lite. The album's first single, "Groove Is in the Heart", was a top-five success on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart as well as a No. 1 hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Three subsequent singles also hit the top ten on the US dance chart, including "Power of Love/Build That Bridge", which also hit No. 1, and "Good Beat" and "E.S.P" which contains a sample of actor Bela Lugosi from the 1934 film "The Black Cat". 

 

In the dawn of a new decade, no matter where your musical tastes resided, there seemed to be something for everyone, fresh sounds were in abundance, creativity was on tap and dance floors were packed to the brim with ardent music lovers waiting for the DJ to spin their favorite tracks. And one of those interesting acts to check was Deee-Lite and their debut album World Clique.

Fronted by Lady Miss Kier, and surrounded by the likes of DJ Dmitry (first as an initial duo) and later adding Towa Tei, culminating in the trio we came to know as Deee-Lite. The group's most synonymous song is most definitely "Groove Is in the Heart," at least on a commercial level. All three band members contributed as songwriters, with funk legend Bootsy Collins providing the bass and some delicious guest vocals. The song’s main riff was sampled from the legendary Herbie Hancock’s "Bring Down The Birds." R&B singer Vernon Burch also had his song, the incredibly funky "Get Up" sampled, being the basis for the drum track featured throughout the song, segueing into that now infamous slide whistle and breakdown featuring a rap by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest fame.

Continuing with their funky optimism, the piano heavy "Power of Love" was next to be released. Failing to replicate the overall commercial success of its predecessor, but became a number one hit not just on the dance charts, but also for house music lovers that had long been yearning for a track like this to fill clubs’ airwaves. Two additional singles were released, the psychedelic heavy on house beats of "E.S.P" and the soulful and smooth "Good Beat."

Combined with the trippy psychedelic visuals of the late '60s that encompassed "Groove Is in the Heart" or the flower power element of "Power of Love," Deee-Lite committed to the visual component of their artistic expression, making sure that it was yet another piece of their holistic puzzle. "Good Beat," set predominantly in an underground club to a hyper-mod vibe and the stuff of truly a thousand dreams,

With twelve tracks and the likes of P-Funk lending their horny horns duo of Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker, it was inevitable that something brilliant was going to come of these many and varied unions. Funk hooks, emotional depth of soul, and then transfusing them with house beats and the euphoria of a club. Deee-Lite are definitely the sound and smell of the early 90's and thirty-five years later, is just as refreshing, relevant and revelatory today as it was back then. 

Critics were quite good hailed the trio as distinguish themselves from others by writing their own hooks and refraining from excessive sampling, the refreshing ability to master different dance styles that made the album one of the most varied and inspirational club crossover records ever.

 

World Clique Track List:  

 

1. Deee-Lite Theme

2. Good Beat

3. Power Of Love

4. Try Me On...I'm Very You

5. Smile On

6. What Is Love?

7. World Clique

8. E.S.P.

9. Groove Is In The Heart

10. Who Was That?

11. Deep-Ending

12. Build The Bridge