Expansion Schallplatten & CDs

Review: At the tail end of the '80s, Sylvia Striplin quit Norman Connors' jazz-funk group Aquarian Dream in order to pursue a solo career. Joining forces with producers James Bedford and Roy Ayers, she recorded 1981 debut album "Give Me Your Love", a well regarded but largely overlooked set that has since become a sought-after item amongst soul collectors. This Expansion reissue presents the album on CD for the first time in two decades. As with many soul albums of the period, it sashays between jazz-funk, boogie and heartfelt slow jams, contrasting memorable dancefloor workouts (see stone cold classic "Give Me Your Love" and a stellar cover of Roy Ayers favourite "Searchin") with more saccharine, loved-up fare. This edition also boasts a couple of bonus cuts, including the superb 7" mix of "Give Me Your Love".

Review: Although renowned for the quality of their soul and jazz-funk reissues, Expansion continues to champion contemporary soulful music - something the label has tried to do from the very start of its existence. For proof, check their annual Soul Togetherness compilations, which astonishingly have appeared every year for the last two decades. There's natural plenty of killer modern soul and 21st century R&B gems to be found on 2020's edition of the popular series, with highlights including the slick '80s soul revivalism of DW3's 'Never Gonna Stop', the smooth soulful house warmth of Will Downing's 'Right Where You Are', the early '80s boogie flex of Cool Million's 'Keep On', the sparking '70s disco heat of Privat Projekt's 'Don't Walk This Way' and the head-nodding positivity of Carmichael Musiclover's 'Pure Sweetness'.

Review: The UK's number one independent soul label Expansion Records commences each year with the label's most anticipated collection, Luxury Soul. The success of the series comes down to the quality of tracks sourced from independent soul artists, focusing on the major and emergent names of the year - this time including Will Downing, Con Funk Shun and Narada Michael Walden. For many of the 35 tracks featured on the compilation, this is the first time they'll have ever appeared on CD, having landed in the soul charts either at number one or in the top ten over the last 12 months. Further exclusives include The Requestors feat. Vivienne McKone, Kloud 9 feat. Kenya, and The Paradise Projex with an exclusive mix of 'Here & Now'. The release is to coincide with the Luxury Soul Weekender in January 2024, and includes tracks by three artists performing live at the event.