Supertonic
Universal, 2020
8/10
There’s very little to be said about the legendary Diana Ross that hasn’t already been said, just as there’s not much, if anything, left for her to do that hasn’t been done. However, a remix album of her singles, i.e. Supertonic, is surely something we can get on board with.
Produced by Ross and mixed by Eric Kupper, “I’m Coming Out/Upside Down” starts the listen with plenty of bright energy where the soulfulness is still present alongside plenty of pop appeal that’s danceable, and “Love Hangover” continues the setting with plenty of easily absorbed grooves in the festive climate that still retains some of the disco nods of the original.
Although there’s just 9 tracks, each one makes an impression including the horn friendly “Surrender”, while “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is reborn with a firm beat and glossy finish of modern sounds but with Motown flavor, too.
Further along, “Touch Me In The Morning” is initially a gorgeous ballad, then benefits greatly from warm piano before soaring high with a silky smooth delivery, and “Remember Me” exits the listen with R&B swagger as exceptional singing highlights the mood.
With nearly half the tunes here hitting #1 on the Billboard charts, we get exceptional song craft with a bit of a club makeover, as Ross sounds quite modern here, which, if you’ve been paying attention, is where most of her recent work has landed- on the dance charts. An artist who has managed to stay relevant for 5 decades now, Supertonic proves that Diana Ross will never go out of style.