Back catalogue: Soul

Review: For a classic 7" that makes you wish you could have experienced the rock and roll and blues heyday, these two dusty gems by Lavern Baker and Jackie Wilson are a great start. Taken from 1960, "Bumble Bees" by Baker is a chiming, doo-wop sing-a-long love song with a tastefully disgruntled character, while Baker & Wilson provide the excellent and X-rated "Think Twice", which sings about taboo topics like cocaine, pussy and reefa. It also boasts lyrics like 'son of a bitch', 'I aint gonna kiss your ass no more' and 'I've had enough of your shit' - not to mention the other out-there obscenities for the time which include references to oral sex. Lil Kim and Khia - eat your heart out!

Review: The superbly classy Daptone label comes on strong with another perfect formed 7" of retro soul. This time, the label's in house crew Menahan Street Band provide their famously authentic grooves, with big horns, rolling licks and drawn out leads on 'How Did I Get Here?' which on the a-side has vocals from LaRose Jackson. Soaring high and filled with rich soul, it's another timeless tune. On the flip is the instrumental. It's a story telling tune with some cosmic synth work and nice old school tambourines for an old/new fusion that gets you movin'.

Review: Oliver James came up in a family of musicians and has been performing most of his life. His has soul sounds deep in his heart and always manages to translate them when he performs. Here he makes his debut on Colemine Records and it nods to all his influences from gospel, blues, and R&B from the Stax era. He has previously worked as a songwriter for Rick Hall, but steps out now to start his solo career and does so with style. 'One And Only' is a perfectly blue eyed and heart aching soul sound, with rousing horns and impassioned vocals over a driving rhythm section. We can't wait for more.

Review: Durand Jones & The Indications' third LP, Too Many Tears keeps on offering up superb singles and after the latest back in November, we now get this new one 'Ride or Die.' This band is a regular on the Colemine label and they do it all from slow motion seductiveness to blue eyed soul and sophisticated lounge pop. This time we get lovely harmonies and breezy soul on 'Ride Or Die' with its lead falsetto set to melt anyone's heart. The flip, things take a tender turn with more vulnerable vocals and gently rhythms that come alive with serene strings, gentle tambourines and neat basslines.

Review: If you're looking for a soulful slow-jam with a powerful message, look no further than Durand Jones & The Indications' 'Power To The People'. This 7" contains a powerful, warm, synth-heavy anthem that celebrates the spirit of resistance and collective solidarity; a reminder of a force we have lost sight of in the modern individualist era. Durand Jones & The Indications are the rabble-rousers in question: the Bloomington, Indiana band mix soul and r&b for a convincing take on the nascent soul revival here.

Review: Colemine Records very much transports us back to another time with this latest lovely offering. It is a deep dive into the work of sophisticated lounge-pop as might be played during dinner at a trendy society ball back in the 60s. It comes from Durand Jones and The Indications and one track off they third album Too Many Tears. It's is one of heartbreak and is lit up by the gorgeous falsetto of Aaron Frazrs on the A-side, who tells s tale of betrayal. On the flip is a sweet soul sound soaked up by new school fans with an alternative indie an experimental sound from Y La Bomba led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Luz Elena Mendoza.

Review: First time on a 45 with a killer string laden funk instrumental on flipside

Review: Say She She is the psychedelic soul group from Brooklyn that's exploded onto the scene since their debut in 2019. Receiving critical acclaim for their two albums to date, and the pleasure of touring Europe and North America, the Nile Rodgers-inspired female trio even got a video message of approval from the legend himself. Authentic and organic are two words that fit the classically trained troupe to a tea and, in the great soul tradition, covers are a necessity. Jim Spencer's 1979 attempt at foraying into disco 'Wrap Myself Up in Your Love' wasn't received amazingly at the time, but thanks to the adoration of archive label The Numero Group, the song has seen a resurgence in covers and fans. The original vocal is zany and expressive against some jangly funk guitars, whilst Say She She's rendition hones in on the sultry aspect of the track. Guitars are muted down to transform the song into a lovemaking slow jam, wind passages are introduced and the vocal is subtly powerful and sexy. This 7" contains both Spencer's original track and the interpretation by the trio, pressed on white vinyl.

Review: Brooklyn-based psychedelic soul group Say She She have exploded onto the scene since their debut in 2019. Receiving critical acclaim for their two albums to date, and multiple TV performances, the Nile Rodgers-inspired female trio even got a video message of approval from the legend himself. Organic and authentic are two words that fit the classically trained troupe to a tea and, in the great soul tradition, covers are a necessity. Jim Spencer's 1979 track 'Wrap Myself Up in Your Love' didn't get much attention at the time - his attempt at doing disco wasn't well received - but thanks to the adoration of archive label The Numero Group, the song has seen a resurgence in covers and fans. The original vocal is expressive and powerful against some jangly funk guitars, whilst Say She She's rendition hones in on the sultry aspect of the track. Guitars are muted down to transform the song into a lovemaking slow jam, wind passages are introduced and the vocal is subtly powerful and sexy. This single has both Say She She's cover - as well as the original - on a 7" disc.

Review: Durand Jones & The Indications earned lavish praise for their eponymous 2016 debut album, with critics comparing it favourably to conscious soul sets of the 1970s from the likes of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. This belated follow up is, if anything, even better, with the group's core offering - tight instrumentation and super-smooth vocals from the hugely talented Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer - being complemented by silky string arrangements, warm brass and lyrics that flit between social commentary and glassy-eyed, loved-up bliss. Highlights include "Morning In America" - a kind of 2019 update to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" - the super-sweet vocal harmonies of "Don't You Know" and "Long Way Home", a lilting look at homesickness blessed with the twin attractions of swooping strings and a killer bassline.