Blue Moderne
Blue Moderne was a short-lived soul and dance studio project formed in the mid-1980s by Miami-based producer and musician Ish Ledesma. The group is best known for its blend of R&B, soul, and Miami freestyle house music.
The group was primarily a collaborative project led by Ish Ledesma, a veteran of the disco era who previously fronted the group Foxy and formed the dance-rock band OXO.
Blue Moderne's sound was defined by its rotating lead vocalists:
Audrey Wheeler: A prominent session singer who provided the lead vocals for the group's debut hit, "Through the Night".
Sandy Barber (Sandy B): An R&B singer who became the primary vocalist for their full-length album.
Ish Ledesma: In addition to writing, producing, and engineering, Ledesma provided instrumental and vocal contributions.
The group's active period spanned from 1986 to 1988, during which they released one studio album and several club-oriented singles.
"Through the Night" (1986): Their debut single was a successful club track, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and #38 on the Dance Sales chart.
"Where Is Love (1988): Released on Atlantic Records, this was the group's only full-length album. It featured a mix of uptempo house-soul tracks and "sexy ballads," including notable songs like "Get It Right" and "Free to Fly".
"No Use to Borrow" (1988): A follow-up single from the album that reached #50 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
"Do That Again" (1988): Another single from the album, though it did not achieve significant chart success.
The project effectively ended after 1988. Sandy Barber continued a career in dance music, while Ish Ledesma remained active in the Florida music scene, later producing for freestyle acts like Company B. Though their commercial peak was brief, Blue Moderne is remembered as a "hidden gem" of the late-80s Miami soul and house movement.
Where Is Love
A2 Make Love To Me 5:07
A3 Again 1:20
A4 No Use To Borrow 5:45
B1 Do That Again 4:10
B2 Blue 4:51
B3 Free To Fly 4:06
B4 Let's Get It Right 6:02
Label: Atlantic – 81807-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Disco, Dance
Blue Moderne's "Where Is Love" is an overlooked late-80s dance/soul masterpiece by producer ISH and vocalist Sandy Barber, praised for its hi-NRG, freestyle, house, and R&B fusion, featuring driving tracks like the title song and bonus mixes of "Through the Night," though some original releases were CDRs, it's a must-have for fans of classic dance music.
Blends hi-NRG, freestyle, house, and classic R&B/soul into a cohesive dance-pop sound.
Features the "stunning" voice of Sandy Barber (Sandy B.) and production from ISH (of Foxy, Company B fame).
Re-releases often add mixes of their earlier mid-80s club hit, "Through the Night".
Highly regarded by fans as an amazing, though overlooked, dance album from the era, with recent CD releases offering a chance for collectors to own it.
It's described as a "late-80s dance/soul opus," a "blast from the past" that still feels fresh, perfect for those who enjoy that specific blend of electronic dance and soulful vocals.