Juno Recommends Soul: August 2022

Review: Soul diggers rejoice, as an exquisite and insanely rare piece of treasure from Barbara Lynn comes back within reach of everyday folk. 'Mellow Feeling' came out in 1979 on Love Records, but it was clearly a very limited pressing given how scarce copies have been since, and how lofty the second hand prices reached. The hype is not without merit - this is a flawless slice of funked-up soul with Lynn on imperious form, and the two-part hit across both sides takes the groove deeper and further. Top work to Soul Brother dusting this one down for a fresh outing - it's a track that needs to be danced to.

Review: Inell Young's What Do You See In Her is often said to be one of the most powerful soul songs to have ever come from the great New Orleans scene. Eddie Bo is of course the great man behind it - as he was so many of these great tunes from this place and this ear - with the voice of Inell adding the spice. Finding an original is hard as, and will also cost you very close to four figures, so snap this one up while you can. Both sides are pure gold.

Review: Once more unearthing a rare and classic electro funk piece, Candy McKenzie's 'Remind Me' gets a proper 12" reissue, homing in on her classic cover of the Patrice Rushen original. Chugging, slick and wacky, McKenzie's vocals glisten and flit over a raw electro beat, heralding offbeat and Texan funk guitar, electrics and basses alike. As much is true for the 'Different Style' dub on the flip.

Review: Sol Set is a Detroit-based collective, an amalgamation of composers, musicians, artists and vocalists brought together by producer John Beltran, whose new label All Good Music chooses its debut album for its inaugural release. John Beltran and Shane Donnelly preside over seven sumptuous and confident slices of modern, sub-kissed soul and Latin sure to put a smile on anyone's face, even those of us faced with an altogether more British summer. Influences range from the Steve Wonder-style double vocals of 'Bliss Mode' to the South American 'Rhythm of the Sun', which echoes the beach bum haziness of Jorge Ben, but the vibe remains joyful and skillfully yet effortlessly executed throughout. Gorgeous.

Review: Michigan-via-Ohio gospel group Rance Allen have been going for decades, and thanks to Expansion Records, two of their best known tunes now have a chance at relistenership. 'I Feel Like Going' on barely saw a resurfacing on YouTube, but just one listen and we're sure... this is a shockingly important slice of wax, with slapping electronic disco-soul production embedding sax, viola and castanets in what ought to be considered a criminally undersought pair of dance opals. A modern soul masterclass.

Review: Washington D.C. jazz funk group released their album Vibes Of Truth in 1975 on Fantasy, and it was bursting with elevated soul which would almost certainly appeal to fans of The Temptations, Gil Scott-Heron and the like. 'If Only I Could Prove To You' is a deep cut from the album, and it's been unearthed by Expansion and given pride of place on this 7", backed up by the album's opening track 'I Need You Girl'. This is life-affirming, classically-crafted stuff with a richly ornamented production, and it's loaded with enough sunshine to brighten the darkest depths of a winter's day, so imagine how good it sounds while we're in the summer months.

Review: Split Decision Band dropped this pearler back in 2018. They hail from Des Moines, Iowa, and are well known to hardcore diggers who cost some of their 70s soul gems. This is another one of them with a laissez-faire vocal backed with warming chords and twirling chords that really dazzle. On the flipside tune 'Say Woman', a deeper male voice takes over the singing duties and delivers a fine turn that is utterly seductive. Some call and response with another female comes in later and the funky bass and deep cut drums are just perfect.

Review: Mega-chromatic soul-jazz with a dash of weirdness from The Universal Togetherness Band. 'I Want You' and 'Call For Love' were recorded between 1979 and 1982, and were subsequently shelved until one of the duo's members began doling out cassette versions, which led to an unearthing in 2014. Subdued and laid-back drums, clack-guitar and toothy bass all poke through this release's sexy soul snark.