SOUL RECOMMENDATIONS MARCH 2016

Review: The James Hunter Six are one of Daptone's new flagship bands, and the seven man ensemble has delivered in fine style since their debut LP back in 2013. This week, they're here with a devilish little 7" that's bound to please everyone from the garage rock freaks, to the funk boys. "Something's Calling" sounds like it was made somewhere between the late 50's and the mid 60's, but it was in fact produced in a recording studio sometime in the last year, and its sweet, melancholic groove is just about perfect. "Talkin' 'Bout My Love" on the flip is slower, a more majestic sort of soul ballad for the lovers and the Northern Soul enthusiasts.

Review: Japanese crate excavator Muro represents two mid 70s soul gems. Creative Source's band-led 1976 cut "I'd Find You Anywhere" was originally featured on his Diggin Ice mixtape twelve years ago and is available here on 45 for the very first time. Stepping back two years to 74, Donaldson's "You're Welcome, Stop On By" takes us on a much spacier, cosmic jazz route where the vocals and his sax licks combine to instantly sooth. Again, this has never been available on 45 before. Limited, and heavyweight vinyl, too...

Review: Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman's Daptone label is always right on-point when it comes to funky Afro beats, and disco-flavoured dance music, and aside from releasing a whole breadth of new talent in that field, they two dudes have also resurrected plenty of golden material from the 70's and 80's, including our all-time favourite Soul Explosion by The Daktaris. The inimitable James Junter Six are back for the imprint's latest release, coming through with a sweet n' soulful soul album with plenty of psych and ska influences - the aptly named Hold On! Organs flying from side to side, a gorgeous selection of deep, coarse vocals, and plenty of stunning, intimate moments for the lovers. A peach.

Review: The Houston Talent Expo '82 is one of those curious releases that has come out of a very special moment in time. Moreover, it's a one-off, a exception that came to be out of chance. The group was an extended collection of African-American in the Houston area throughout the 1980s, and this was their only release as a unit. "Let's Get High" sets the scene in perfect fashion, a funky, slow-motion groove with enough soul to kill the devil himself, but there's even gear for the diggers and samplers to salivate over. The absurdly good "Chocolate Coated People" drops a wonky, gritty slice of percussion over drugged-out melodies and a sea of funkiness. This is a truly special piece of music - don't miss it.

Review: Soul Has No Tempo present Groove Curse, Jordan Rakei's long-awaited follow up to highly-acclaimed debut EP Franklin's Room, his modern take on reggae-infused soul music. Groove Curse takes an evolved turn, with a sound Rakei describes as "raw, vocal-driven, groove". With the first single off the EP, Street Light featuring Berklee College of Music Alumni Gwen Bunn (vocalist and producer of Schoolboy Q's Collard Greens feat. Kendrick Lamar), the release celebrates the skills of upcoming young musicians who are writing, self-producing and taking full advantage of their vocal and multi-instrumentalist talents.

Review: Since emerging on Blue Note almost 10 years ago Sly Johnson's one-man-band loopery, fiery soul and hip-hop sentimentality has gone from strength to strength. Sitting somewhere between Amp Fiddler, D'Angelo and Jamie Lidell, Mic Buddah is a late night trip around the finest soul moments of the last 40 years. "Nasty Girl" smacks of "Controversy"-era Prince, "Wet" is a smouldering, groaning slice of timeless R&B, "Good Morning" is a beautiful gospel construction laded with deep tenor loops while "Womenarium" fuses a Wonder-style jazziness with modern hip-hop. These highlights are just to start with... This is a hugely accomplished album.