Review: Hailing from sunny California, funk/soul/jazz crew The Charities bring heart and grit to a track that delves into the intoxicating pull of a love destined to implode. The song paints a vivid portrait of a desriable yet destructive partner whose charm conceals a narcissistic core. With sharp, emotive lyrics and a bittersweet melody, it yearns for the intensity of love's highs and the sting of its inevitable downfall. It's a classic tale of attraction turning to heartache, delivered with a raw authenticity that lingers. Their third single since forming, 'Fatal Attraction' might just be their best yet, while on the flip side, 'It's Not Our Time' shifts to a softer, more reflective tone. This bittersweet ballad explores the ache of love interrupted, as two lovers part ways with the hope that time and distance will lead to a brighter reunion. The warmth of the band's instrumentation, coupled with tender, heartfelt vocals, makes this track a touching counterbalance to the A-side's intensity. The Charities' ability to channel deep emotion through timeless grooves is soulful storytelling at its finest.
Review: Loveland, Ohio's Colemine label offer a 7" indie exclusive on this furtive freshener from house engineer and regularly featured artist Leroi Conroy, returning after his last 45 in 2017 with a sharp double-sider flaunting his rhythmatic flair and deeper verbal intuitions. 'No Return' outlays crisp boom-bap drums wrapped in fluttering flute lines from Michael Sarason (of Say She She) and shimmering harp hallelujahs, courtesy of Cincinnati handywoman Rachel Miller. There's a distinct nod to Dorothy Ashby's work here, but reimagined for a 2025 palette; the flip leads the way to the 'Path Of Man', stripping the bark back to murkier moods, pulling from the darker corners of Conroy's upcoming full-length. He's come a long way since vacationing from the cutting lathe, representing himself in a new soulful and cinematic light, one which is yet raw and unpolished where it counts.
Review: Leroi's back! Well... He never went away. As a studiosmith and designer his fingerprints are all over many of Colemine's on-point curations, but now we're about to enjoy a whole new tonne of Conroy as he prepares to drop his debut album. These two heavyweight instrumentals set the scene perfectly; "Tiger Trot" looks east for melodic inspiration with a touch of New Orleans in the swampy sweaty delivery. "Enter" hits with more of a jazzier, freeform air as we spiral into trumpet dizziness into deep bluesy introspection and some damn fine breaks from fellow Colemine consistency Rob Houk. Only 300 copies pressed.
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