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NEW ALBUMS (updated 11th Nov. 2008)
ALEX LATTIMORE - PROMISE (AlexJDot))
Nice mellow Soul album from this rich-voiced singer (Who also plays many of the instruments too) - He sounds like a cross between Walter Jackson and Will Downing. You might know Alex from his work with the group Jiva. Great modern Soul with a wonderful live Jazz-tinged band. Highlights Include: Kissing you, Lullabye & A million Ways.
**
BENNSON - LET THE LOVE (Raw Fusion)
Strong mainly up-tempo set recorded in Sweden. Going down a similar rout to the Sunburst Band - A little commercial at times but all very good. Highlights include: Whatever it is, Let the love, Fly high & I need music.
***
COOL MILLION - GOING OUT TONIGHT (Expansion)
Nice mainly up tempo set from Denmark which re-creates the mid-80's sound of groups like Midnight Star, Atlantic Star, Mtume & Kleeer. Not a bad track on here. Highlights include: Going out tonight, Get up on the floor & Lift me up.
**
DONALD SHEFFEY -LET'S BE LOVERS (Donald Sheffey)
Really strong Soul album with an 80's feel at times. A great mix of Mid-tempo, dancers and ballard's too. Donald's voice reminds me of somebody, but I just can't work out who! Recommended. Highlights include: Just because, Sweetheart & Let's be lovers.
**
FEET - HANDS UP FOR FEET (Feetprod)
Great Jazzy-Soulful-Dance set from France - Although only available as a Japanese import at the moment. Containing all the single releases of the last couple of years and a lot more too. Not to be missed. Highlights include: Cool Summer, Hard to say, I think of you & My music.
***
INCOGNITO - TALES FROM THE BEACH (Dome)
Nice (but by their very high standards a little disappointing) new album from Bluey and the gang. Not a bad track, but somehow lacking in frills. Well worth a listen. Highlights Include: I've been waiting, Never look back & Feel the pressure.
*
JAZZANOVA - OF ALL THE THINGS (Verve)
Jazzanova does Soul! (And a little Jazz too!) Something rather different for these talented Berlin based DJ/producers and it works. A retro set with many fine vocalists the best of which - for me at least is Paul Randolph. Highlights include: Let me show ya & Lucky girl.
*
MARC EVANS - THE WAY YOU LOVE ME (Defected)
Wonderful mainly Soulful-House set with the emphasis on Marc's powerful vocals. Great production using loads of familiar rifts. And although many of the tracks have already been released as singles it's good to hear the album versions. Highlights include: The way U love me, I don't want you anymore, Am I crazy & This thing called love.
***
MILLION DOLLAR ORCHESTRA (THE) - BETTER DAYS (BBE)
One for the real Disco lovers. Brand new Disco sounding like it was recorded in the 1970's - In an analogue studio using a real orchestra and what sounds like period synthesizers too. Very similar to Patrick Adams in about 1978. Highlights include: Keep on doin' whatcha doin', Feel the music & Makin' love.
*
RAPHAEL SAADIQ - THE WAY I SEE IT (Sony)
Nice retro set - In fact if somebody had played this to me and said it was a Motown album from the end of the 60's I would have believed them. Most tracks sound like they could have been recorded by The Temptation, Smokey Robinson and the stand out track (Never give you up) by Marvin Gaye. Not a bad track on here. Highlights include: Just one kiss (feat. Joss Stone) & Never give you up (feat. Stevie Wonder)
*
REEL PEOPLE - SEVEN WAYS TO WONDER (Papa)
Great U.K. Soul/Dance album (without a doubt the best so far this year). Even better than their last one! Not a bad track on here. This really is Soulful Dance at it's best. Essential. Highlights include: Outta love (feat. Omar), So Amazing, Rise and fly & Perfect sky.
****
SNOWBOY - SNOWBOY'S SOUL SPECTACULAR (Acid Jazz)
A best of all the great stuff this U.K. DJ/musician/producer has done over the last few years. From Soul to Jazzfunk. Some great tracks. Highlights include: Astralisation, Girl over board & Where love lives.
***
SUNBURST BAND - MOVING WITH THE SHAKERS (Z Records)
Strong new set from Joey Negro and the band. Mainly 21st century Disco and Boogie but Soulful and Jazzy too in places. Highly recommended (Although a little "cheesy" at times). Highlights include: Put a lyric in it, Moving with the shakers, Journey to the sun & We can live forever.
***
SUPER-PHONICS - INTERSTELLAR (Freestyle)
Nice upbeat set from this U.K. group (although originally released in Japan). Sounding modern but with an early 80's feel - similar to Incognito at times. Highlights include: Dial L for love & Interstellar.
*
SWING OUT SISTER - BEAUTIFUL MESS (Promo)
Nice cool and easy Jazzy Soul album from this consistent U.K. duo. Wonderful arrangements (similar at times to the lush 70's soul tunes.) with Beautiful vocals. Not a bad track on here (although the two re-mixes do let it down a bit). Highlights include: All I say, all I do, Out there & Beautiful mess.
***
V.A. DIMITRI FROM PARIS - RETURN TO THE PLAYBOY MANSION (Defected)
The third installment of this great series. 2 C.D.'s of Soulful House, Disco, Boogie & Soul all mixed by Dimitri. ( CD 2 is surprisingly mellow.) Highlights include: Musique - Love massage, Fish Go deep - The cause & the cure, & Flowers - For real
**
V.A. GILLES PETERSON IN THE HOUSE (Defected)
Latest installment of this consistent series finds G.P. in fine form. A good selection of Soulful-House and underground Soul and Jazz Funk classics spread and mixed over 3 C.D.'s. My only criticism is that many of the older tracks are edited far to much (Sometimes to a minute or two - Why not put less tracks on!) Highlights include: Wahoo - Don't take it personal, Shuya Okino (replayed by Sleepwalker) - Thank you & Johhney Hammond - Tell me what to do.
*
V.A. SOUL TOGETHERNESS 2008 (Expansion)
The 9th (I think!) annual installment of this great series does not disappoint. From Modern-Soul to Soulful-Dance old and new. This really is all that's good on the U. K. Soul scene. In the unlikely advent that you could only buy one album this year this should be the one. Highlights include: Bennson - Let the love, The Sunburst Band - Put a lyric in it, Richard Stepp - Caught up in a whirlwind & J.P. Rodgers - All my lovin,
****
V.A. SOUL UNSIGNED - EP 001 (Soul Unsigned)
Four great tracks from different artists. Excellent Gentleman - Tonight alright, felix - Leave it all behind, Grooves back Productions - Blow your mind, Harambe - In the bone. Although all sounding very different, they all have a slight retro feel - Yet contemporary too. It is so nice to hear good up-tempo soul. A must!
***
V.A. SOUL UNSIGNED - EP 002 (Soul Unsigned)
The 2nd release from Solar Radio presenter Phil Driver's new label and every bit as good as the first. Another four unknown (to me anyway) artists with four great new tracks - this time around with a more Jazzy (or even JazzFunky) feel.
Proving that there is cool and exciting new Soul music out there.
***
SOUL UNSIGNED - LP Viol. 1 (Soul Unsigned)
The first album release from this exciting record label and it's a winner! 14 great new Soul track - Some with a Jazz-Funk feel. Proving that there is cool mid. and up-tempo new Soul out there! (And not only the dull one-paced stuff I keep hearing played by some Soul DJ's!) A Must! Highlights include: Kre8iv 4ce - She, Al Campos - New York Feeling & Mothergroove - Don't waste your time.
***
VLADIMIR CETKAR - WE WILL NEVER END (Vladimir)
Very good, exciting Jazz Funk set from this Macedonian (via U.S.A.) artist. It has a real late 70's early 80's British Jazz funk sound. But at only seven tracks (about 30 minutes) it is far too short. Recommended. Highlights include: We will never end & In the open space.
**
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