Music today would be nowhere without the indelible sound of the Motown era, and artists today still cite acts like Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5 as massive inspirations for their works. Another artist that still has a major effect on musicians and artists today is the late Marvin Gaye, and, though his life and career were senselessly cut short, his music and spirit live on through artists like Tom Bailey who brilliantly honor his work. Bailey is an expert at covers, which he self-describes as remixes, and his musical prowess surely shines here on his remix of Gaye's Tammy Terrell-assisted 1967 hit, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." It is a song that is all too familiar to anyone with knowledge of music from the 1960s, and, with its being made even more famous in 1970 by Diana Ross, it gained even greater acclaim. What Bailey does on this remix, however, is most reminiscent of the true essence of Marvin Gaye. Bailey turns the track into a neo-soul masterpiece led by his silky vocals, and, amid his strong voice lies glitchy drum beats, soft-spoken piano chords, and the lull of an electric guitar. The track takes Marvin Gaye's soul and lyrics into the modern R&B realm without sounding contrived at all. For more tunes from Tom, make sure you visit his SoundCloud page.
Tom Bailey