In the Eighties it seemed as if all dance music was vocally rooted in R&B or various flavors of soul. By the time the 90s hit us, you'd think this would have changed, but in fact, when it came to house music, especially Chicago's brand of the stuff, the vocal influence remained the same. Now that we're past the tipping point of the Two-thousands, you simply have to accept that R&B/Soul vocals are always going to be the backbone of dance music.

1. Intro
2. Inside my World (prod. by Jimpster)
3. New World (prod. by Simbad)
4. I'm Chained (prod. by Ian Pooley)
5. Only Me (prod. by Kid Massive)
6. Survive
7. Now I Know (prod. by Atjazz)
8. Never Give Up (prod. by Charles Webster)
9. Press On
10. Back To You (prod. by Marc Romboy)
11. Happiness
12. Happy (prod. by Wahoo)
13. Merging (prod. by TJ Kong & Nuno Dos Santos)
14. No Tomorrow (prod. by Kirk Degiorgio)
15. Listen - Outro

De Facto influence or not, Robert Owens has spent his career making sure we're all able to appreciate the way this kind of stylistic fusion should be done. Though Night-Time Stories, his first artist album in 10 years, is full of solid four-four R&B, house and disco influenced dance tunes, it was his slower jams that caught the Properly Chilled ear.

Throughout his career Robert Owens has pretty much been at the epicenter of House music, soaking up its regional variations by immersing himself in the cultures of Chicago, New York, and London.

The outcome of all this diversity and Robert's inevitable musical maturity can really be appreciated in a song like "Now I Know". Produced by well known UK talent Atjazz, this song has a slower tempo than most of the dance-oriented tracks on the album, but really displays an amazing depth. It's followed by another great slow jam called "Never Give Up" that was produced by Charles Webster. In my opinion, it's what you hear and feel in between each beat that really makes the connection. I guess that's why dance music seldom draws me in; there's no time to feel what's in between the beats.

Coming from a place where the remix is as casual and expected a part of any album as the artist's original work, it isn't surprising, but certainly noteworthy to see how many different producers Robert Owens worked with in recording each of these songs. Almost every one has him working with a different producer, from Jimpster, Simbad, Ian Pooley, Kid Massive, and Atjazz, to Charles Webster, Marc Romboy, Wahoo, TJ Kong & Nuno Dos Santos and Kirk Degiorgio. It certainly speaks to the influence of Owens' work.

Though the majority of Night-Time Stories is a collection of upbeat dance tracks, you'll find some really nice slower jams and at least one old school styled house cut (see, "Merging") that are sure to hit you in the pleasure center if you're open to Robert Ownens' disco, house and soul influences.

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