Back catalogue: Soul

Review: Cash Money Experience are soul dons and if you need proof listen no further than this new 7". Darryl Howard is the vocalist and songwriter of Nu'rons and here he offers up the lead vocals while Emanuel Campbell, who is one of his co-members in Nu'rons, is responsible for the lyrics. On the extended version of 'Outside Looking In' the vocals convey plenty of pain on nice laidback drums and funky riffs. The Full Radio Edit distils things to a shorter play length but is just as effective.

Review: Conceived for maximum floor-lift, Daje Funk is the namesake of both artist and label; here the elusive but fun-loving moniker brings another four whopper disco edit-remixes to vinyl, further charging the collective body with a haul of kitsch spirituals. Three out of four tracks here are "lovely edited" - intentional or not, we can't resisting stealing such brilliant turns of phrase - by longtime Roman disco purveyor Les Inferno, with the support of a cracking cadre made up of fellow producers and engineers Max Pottini, Emiliano Patrick Legato and Dom Scuteri. Stefano Fusco also handles the B1; and though we don't know the original IDs of any of the tracks here, the vibe is consistently spirited, and the artists only carefully betray their access to the original stems (made eventually obvious by faint vocal delays, extra-thwacking kick EQs, etc.).

Review: The Extra Soul Perception label held a first ever writing camp in Nairobi in 2019 and Lynda Dawn was one of the pupils. She has already released 'Roses' on the label's New Tangents...Vol. 1 EP with other music from the UK, Kenya and Uganda. But this was the standout track so now it makes its way to its own 7". It is the sort of heart achingly beautiful slow motion disco-soul that will be perfect end of the night send home or early evening warm up for more cosy dance floors. There is a slightly more beefed up version from XL Middleton to complete this tidy 7".

Review: 'Listen To Me Girl' is a previously unreleased Philadelphia recording licensed from veteran producer Emanuel Manny Campbell Jr. Although featured on a Coastal Records CD project, this marks the first vinyl release of one of The Delights' best tunes. The group consisted of four young male singers, two of whom were Manny's cousins, Keith and Ellis Hill, along with their cousin Jaime and teenage friend, and all were all aged 16-17 and from Chester, Pennsylvania. Under Manny's guidance, they recorded this soulful dancer in 1968. Despite their potential, the group never completed the planned projects and so 'Listen To Me Girl' remains a rare gem from their short-lived career.

Review: Kent records brings a lesser-known soul gem back to vinyl where it truly belongs. Originally recorded by Terri Bryant on Verve in 1967, '(You'd Better) Straighten Up And Fly Right' has long been a fan favourite, but it has never before been available on 7". The Devonnes' version, led by a powerhouse female vocal group, captures the aura of 60s soul with an infectious melody, catchy hooks, and an exciting energy that makes it a standout in the era's soul catalog. On the flip side, 'Doin' 'The Gittin' Up' is another lively, danceable track that showcases the group's versatility. Written by the prolific Larry Banks, the song was first issued in 2005 on a compilation but has been in high demand ever since. Both tracks highlight the talent of the Devonnes, who, despite their impressive output, didn't gain the recognition they deserved at the time. This reissue finally gives their recordings the attention they've long warranted.

Review: Originally composed by Don Blackman and recorded by Weldon Irvine in 1975, this rare 70s groove has been reimagined in a brand-new recording that importantly stays true to the essence of the original. The updated version features Natalie Duncan alongside DOS on vocals and the music is arranged by Bluey and showcases a talented lineup of musicians from Incognito who bring a fresh yet faithful twist. It blends soulful instrumentation with a contemporary touch that is sure to connect with all new audiences.

Review: The new soul project by ex-members of Silver Skylarks, Dorrington Drive, hears lush productions and distinct melodies channelled into the self-revelatory spirit of early 70s AM pop and soul. This cut could've easily been heard on one such radio station, a staple of the time. With the track named after the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Brooklyn, we find ourselves embarking on a thoroughly enjoyable Atlantic coastline jaunt here, through bombastic funk bass and slapping toms.

Review: The mighty Dusty Donuts return to Queensbridge where they encounter a 'Lost Girl' featured on a legendary mixtape by one of QB's finest. This bouncy, choppy Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop Late Night Remix is sure to ignite any gathering. On the flipside, the vibes shift from Queensbridge to Staten Island and bring a special sound to work the crowd - this heavy soul classic arrives in true Shaolin style with choppy, dark soul chords and classic hip-hop beats. It's a track that commands attention with the drums but also locks in head and heart.

Review: Former Paper Recordings artist Sophie Lloyd apparently started working on "Calling Out" whilst gripped by the January blues. Her intention was simply to make "happy music". To that end, she turned to her gospel roots. The results, shared here on 7" single for the first time, are little less than spectacular. With collaborator Dames Brown in tow, Lloyd's vocals - accompanied by a gospel choir, of course - simply soar above a jaunty, piano-heavy track rich in live instrumentation. It sits somewhere between traditional gospel, house and disco, with a flipside instrumental brilliantly showcasing the quality of the instrumentation throughout. The piano solos, in particular, are breathlessly good.

Review: What is the crux of the connection between two of dance music's most beloved cities? Dave & Maurissa ask more questions than they answer on London/Detroit, their stellar new soulful deep house LP on Z Records. Formerly known as Joey Negro, Dave Lee is said to have spent the best part of a decade searching for another vocal talent to work with, where an encumbrance of applicants did not made the cut... until Maurissa Rose came along. Notably not by email or "next"-worthy panel judgment, the connection was made via Lee's chance encounter with Maurissa's voice on a Theo Parrish record, after which many an email exchange, .mp3 swap and transatlantic air-shuttling ensued. What emerged was a versatile LP, reflecting the encyclopaedic knowledge of soul and house gone into its making, and the fact that this was the first time that either artist had recorded an entire LP with another across a single dozen-track serving.

Review: Neo soul singer and producer Lynda Dawn follows up her 2019 debut At First Light with the sophomoric sopor 11th Hour. Prompted by the trauma of the global pandemic, which stunted the momentum garnered by her first LP, 11th Hour was made after Dawn found a defiant space of resilience and took up a music production course. Thus flaunting a newly strung skill, the record is a consumptive blend of emotions, with moods of both criticality and soothing. The subtlety of Dawn's ear in the company of producers Jackum and Blake Rhein is astounding, the likes of 'Love Is Callin'' and 'Do You Dream' exemplarily working down a slow-jammed, psych-soul sensitivity; Dawn's vocals also play out like gauzy mists, seemingly ungraspable and palpable at the same time.

Review: This long-lost 1973 album from Graham Dee is a fabled record from the man who was a key figure in the 60s London session scene and later a prolific songwriter and producer, and it is now released on vinyl for the first time. Dee was a renowned session guitarist who played with legends like Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck as well as artists such as John Lee Hooker and The Walker Brothers. After working with them, he became an in-house producer for Atlantic Records and honed a distinctive 'British Soul sound.' In the 70s, he moved to the U.S., writing songs and working at the legendary Muscle Shoals. Mr. Super Cool was only rediscovered in 2019 and it's clear to hear Dee's unique talent on a record that offers a fascinating glimpse into early 70s recording.