Palmetto Street US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: It's five up for the Palmetto Street label and this one finds them turning to Ben Pirani & The Means Of Production who manage to again find new ground in this great EP. The lead single from the 7" is a soft and melancholic sad song with none other than Brian Jackson (who collaborated with Gil Scott Heron) playing the flute parts. He cuts through the smokey mood with daring harmonies while on the flip things get even more forceful with 'Something So Precious'. Pirani goes it alone on the vocals for this one while a strong quartert adds the sumptuous melodies.

Review: Colemine continue their 7" singles charge with this new one by Tre D'Ambrocia, a budding contemporary soul singer - to say their future prospects are "promising" would be an understatement. Sullen but no less emotional, A-sider 'Closer' is a nighttime, g-funk-whistling exercise in soul, with D'Ambrocia's vocals seeming to span both soul and r&b as it cuts through the mix like a beckoning finger, urging us to "come closer". The B-side, meanwhile, hears D'Ambrocia cover the Toots And The Maytals original, for an initially dispiriting yet ultimately cleansing new leaf in song form.

Review: Six Minute Mile has rightly got plenty of attention for its first few outings and their early good work connotes with this eight 7". It's from Ohio's Wesley Bright who has joined forces with The Means of Production and New York's Ben Pirani, and is a lovely mid-tempo roller that reminds of balmy summer nights. The tune comes in two parts and opens with lovely Rhodes chords that are a great foundation for the tenor vocals of Wesley. Then come plenty of irresistible hooks and the rousing vocals sing of love and devotion like all good soul sounds should.