Big Crown US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Longstanding New York troupe El Michels Affair bite down on 2017 with two on-point left-sided soul jams. "Tearz" is a biggie, not least because it features Lee Fields and The Shacks. A warm, organ groove with loose breaks and drops into pure harmonic bliss, it's another spellbinding affair from the Wu-approved crew. "Verbal Intercourse" takes more of a slinkier, subtle approach with clipped horns spitting an insistent hook over sparse, twanging instrumental elements. Stunning, as always.

Review: Cinematic soul legend El Michels Affair has written a superb album Glorious Game which is due for release later in spring. Before that full-length with Roots co-founder and lyricist Black Thought - which is a meditation on the state of the hip-hop scene in the early 2020s - we get this taster single from it. 'Glorious Game' as you would expect as all the lush instrumentation and dark soul sounds you'd expect from this artist by now with the added extra of some superbly thought-provoking mic work. 'Grateful' is another heart-wrenching and alluring sound that more than gets us excited for the full length.

Review: Bobby Ozra was on tour back in 2019 and the final date was in New York City. He had some time before returning home to Finland so hooked up with El Michel's Affair and Diamond Mine to record some music. The pair hit it off immediately, and Bobby used the chance to write about more esoteric subjects with the pair soon deciding to work on a full length album together. They are now well on with that process but in the meantime offer up two new gems. 'Losing It' is sun in Spanish and English and is a dramatic and moving tune while 'Watcha Know' explores death with some philosophical ponderings.