“Dubwise but not exactly dub, rich in ambience but not exactly ambient music.” With three of the classic Sade albums (Promise, Diamond Life, Stronger Than Pride) recently repressed […]
Love’s Got Me: The Pioneering UK Soul of Loose Ends
A deep dive into one of the most influential UK Soul groups of the ’80s.
Arriving on the scene right around the same time as Sade, Loose Ends is often overshadowed by the iconic quiet storm quartet despite being the first British group ever to top the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. Some argue that the trio, comprised of keyboard player Steve Nichol, vocalist Jane Eugene, and vocalist/guitarist Carl McIntosh, is actually the U.K.’s most influential soul group, but, of course, we’re not here to pick favorites… Our intention today is to simply shine a light on another somehow still underrated group, and maybe open up a doorway to other lesser known UK soul acts.
Formed in 1981, Loose Ends paved the way for many British R&B groups during the ’80s with their smooth, contemporary sound. Blending together elements of jazz, soul, reggae, and funk, the group created sophisticated pop/dance music with innovative production utilizing the latest drum machines and synthesizers. Speaking on the group’s formation, Carl McIntosh says in a Red Bull Music Academy interview, “Black people in London around the ’80s… Most of us came from families from the West Indies, and our indigenous music was reggae. There were no different art forms or genres then; there was only reggae or soul. What we had to do was find our niche in a totally different country, come forward as a youth, bringing elements of reggae and elements of soul, and try to do something that was impossible because there was no market for us. There was no road that was already there for us.”
Much like their U.S. contemporaries S.O.S. Band, Loose Ends’ drum machine grooves are unmistakeable and can almost be recognized from their drum patterns alone. In fact, the group’s big hit “Hangin’ On A String (Contemplating)” was selected by Roland as one of the featured tracks for the TR-808’s 40th anniversary “Made On 808” series (alongside tracks by Newcleus, Egyptian Lover, Yellow Magic Orchestra, and others). Roland: “The beat is an elegant device here, one of the most categorical uses of the 808 committed to wax. Unlike future acts who’d amp up the sub frequencies of the kick to improbable levels, Loose Ends use the beat as a soft pillow.” The timeless track also appears on The Vibe 98.8 station on Grand Theft Auto IV.
Loose Ends would continue to release numerous hits throughout the ’80s and ’90s, though founding members Steve Nichol and Jane Eugene would leave the group in 1988. Carl McIntosh emerged as the driving creative force behind the project, releasing the group’s final album Look How Long in 1990 with Linda Carriere and Sunay Suleyman. In that same Red Bull interview, McIntosh recalls, “My focus was on music and I could see what we were doing, the form that we were doing it in was about to change and I wanted to be on that bus. So I started to study hip-hop music and electronic and sampling and I think I was probably a part of that when the change came.” Look How Long featured a street soul sound with raw, hip-hop inspired drum-machine grooves and sampled elements. Their final hit “Don’t Be A Fool” was a message of hope during the ’90s drug epidemic.
Amazingly, all three original members of Loose Ends reunited in Los Angeles and Atlanta in 2006. They continue to perform today. Jane and Steve perform at times in the States under “Loose Ends featuring Jane Eugene”, whilst Carl McIntosh performs at times in the U.K. under the name “Loose Ends featuring Carl McIntosh.” Check their tour dates!
If you enjoyed these tracks, we highly recommend also checking out Soul II Soul, The Real Thing, Imagination, Rick Clarke, Pure Silk, and Toyin Agbetu. Below, a playlist featuring more of our favorite Loose Ends tracks.