Colours Revisited

Colours Revisited, a revision of Adam F’s MOBO Award-winning 1997 debut album is a story of musical rebirth and passion. Adam F, realising that Colours had found a new audience – partly thanks to artists like Pink Pantheress – decided to recreate the album. Instead of simply remastering the tracks, Adam went all in. Over two years, he meticulously reworked the original music, from restoring vintage instruments like his Fender Rhodes piano to enlisting UK jazz legends like Julian Joseph. Vocalists including Kirsty Hawkshaw and the late MC Conrad re-recorded their parts, while new solos from world-class musicians added fresh life to the tracks. “Colours holds a special place in my heart because it was not only my first solo album, but also because I had the opportunity to collaborate with diverse talents,” says the seminal producer on his ground-breaking album. “Musicians of a calibre such as Dave Ital (Guitars), The Jazz Great Julian Joseph (Keyboards and Fender Rhodes), MC Conrad (MC/Artist), Roni Jordan (Jazz a guitarist who had a hit with Miles Davis’ “So What”), Tim Philbert/Tim the Bass (Bass), Greg Leicester (Bass), Maurice Capillaire/MC MC (Live MC)-” Adam continues “We were honoured to be nominated for Mobo “Best album of the year” alongside renowned acts of that time, including Hinda Hicks, Des’ree, Lighthouse Family, and Massive Attack. In fact, I was so convinced that we wouldn’t win that I didn’t prepare a speech, and that definitely showed in my genuine surprise. Colours also went on to be a top 20 UK National Chart hit which lead to Metropolis winning Tune of the Year at the Underground Awards. Music In My Mind from the same album was inspired from Herbie Hancock ‘Rocket’ and ‘I Thought It Was You’. “Fast forward to 2020, I never thought of ever revisiting Colours. But it seems that time has come round full circle, the interest is there.” The revisited album deftly weaves together the energy of new live instrumentation with the 80’s British electronica and jazz fusion inspired sounds of the original. The result is a project which not only brings the album into the glistening present but somehow manages to add further depth and sense of understanding of the original Colours, the influences latent within it and how and why it has gone on to influence so many others since it’s inception throughout the world. This is a must have album which pays homage to what has become a cornerstone of British electronic music history.