The brainchild of Englishman
Charles Webster, the architect of Love from San Francisco,
Presence is more of a soul collective than a traditional recording project. Similarities to such projects as
Style Council and
Innocence are inevitable, but
Presence is a wholly unique and fresh undertaking. Combining classic soul songwriting with some futuristic dance/house grooves,
All Systems Gone is also buttressed by several fabulous vocal performances, most notably ex-
Massive Attack's
Shara Nelson, who's reading of "Sense of Danger" is truly magnificent. Probably the first classic record of the 21st century. ~ Matthew Greenwald