Six Nine レコード& CD

Review: The cover art for this limited 7" is worth the overprice alone and very much captures the nostalgic feel of the 80s disco sounds you will find within. This one marks Davey H's (aka David Humphrey) debut release for Six Nine Records and surely there will be many more after it because 'Keep Movin'' is a gem. The drums are lithe and lively, the vocals full of heart and soul and the chords cosmic. On the reverse is a T Groove UK remix that slows things down a little and ups the heft of the drums.

Review: Yuki "Monolog" Kanesaka is a soul, jazz and r&b producer who is based between Boston and Tokyo, and Yuki "T-Groove" Takahashi is widely regarded as one of Japan's best remixes. Together they are Golden Bridge and they make timeless soul sounds steeped in magical musicianship and lush production. Elements of greats like Herbie Hancock and the Mizell Brothers loom large over these tunes which come from their eponymous 2019 album. 'Wouldn't Be The Same' opens in funky and stepping soul style with neat bass riffs. The B-side is a cover of Tony Etoria's 'I Can Prove It' that swells the heart with its upbeat grooves, yearning vocal and rich strings.

Review: Six Nine Records welcomes honey-voiced soul man Terrill Paul to the label for the first time, via a two-track 45 written and produced by the prolific Stone Paxton. The cut for dancefloor plays is undoubtedly A-side 'This Time', a pleasingly nostalgic nod to turn of the 80s disco-soul whose grooves, lyrics and instrumentation recall the celebratory brilliance of Earth, Wind and Fire. Just like that band's best moments, 'This Time' boasts a superb lead vocal and a genuinely catchy chorus. Over on the flip, 'Heaven Sent' is a delightfully loved-up slow jam that blurs the boundaries between contemporary soul, r&b and glossy mid-80s productions.

Review: Floridian musician Tedi Robinson specialises in what he calls "mellowfunkism" - a smooth, colourful, Prince-influenced take on retro-futurist soul that various draws inspiration from jazz-funk, '80s groove, contemporary R&B and P-funk. It's this attractive, effortlessly soulful trademark sound that's showcased on Robinson's second Six Nine Music "45" as Son of Pearl. Robinson's dazzling bass and smooth vocals take pride of place on A-side 'Wonderful', alongside head-nodding, hip-hop style beats, glistening guitars and twinkling electric piano sounds. Over on the reverse, 'The Other Side of Nowhere' boasts all manner of kaleidoscopic, P-funk-influenced synth sounds, crunchy R&B drums and more elastic bass courtesy of Robinson, whose vocals are once again superb.