Friday, June 23, 2017

NEW MUSIC: CODY CHESTNUTT - MY LOVE DIVINE DEGREE; NOMADE ORQUESTRA - ENTREMUNDOS; SHALIA PROSPERE - BACK TO LIFE

CODY CHESTNUTT - MY LOVE DIVINE DEGREE

Divine sounds from the mighty Cody Chestnutt – a singer who's come a long way from both his Headphone Masterpiece album, and the long drought that followed that classic set! Cody's very firmly back in the driver's seat – and he's working strongly to remind folks that fuzzy, abstract soul was a genre he virtually invented – unafraid to let the beats and crispy bits in the mix get equal space alongside his vocals, sometimes turning the bottom up top, and really letting the songs find their flow! Yet the lyrics are also more important than before, too – filled with a sense of message that really shows a maturing side of the singer, and a willingness to answer some of the struggles that might not have touched him as strongly before. Cody still may be one of the most understated singers in soul music – but he's also got this subtle power that just seems to get better as the years move on – and maybe even a bit more collaborative here, as the album features some contributions from artists who include Raphael Saadiq and Twilite Tone. Titles include "Africa The Future", "Anything Can Happen", "I Stay Ready", "Image Of Love", "Have You Heard Anything From The Lord Today", "Shine On The Mic", "This Green Leaf", "It's In The Love", "Always Sebrena", "So Sad To See A Lost Generation", "Bullets In The Street & Blood", and "Make A Better Man".  ~ Dusty Groove

NOMADE ORQUESTRA - ENTREMUNDOS

Far Out Recordings has released a unique blend of hedonism and spirituality, from a distinctly paulista (São Paulo) perspective, the album journeys through Ethio-jazz, Indian classical, Oriental, Afro-Brazilian roots rhythms and Northern hemisphere jazz, funk, soul and library influences. With support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jeremy Sole, Volcov, Rick Wade and many more, the sheer vastness of the album is astounding, Nomade Orquestra have quite literally conquered the world in sound. You can catch them on their upcoming tour: 8th July, Kendal Calling Festival, Bristol, UK; 29th July, WOMAD Festival, Charlton Park, UK; 30th July, The Duke Of Cumberland, Whitstable, UK; 1st August, Jazz Cafe, London, UK; 4th-5th August, Duc Des Lombards, Paris, FR; 6th August, Truefest, Hay-on-Wye, UK; 10th August, The Canteen, Bristol, UK; and 11th August, Boomtwown, Hampshire, UK.

SHALIA PROSPERE - BACK TO LIFE

The highly anticipated ‘Back To Life’ album from Shaila Prospere will be released on 30th June on CD only. The album is a bumper package of quality soul music and includes the previous two singles ‘Let Me Be Yours’ and the future classic ‘Family’ and the Soul Syndicate mixes of both of these tracks. Both of these songs have received lots of love and airplay from the soul music fraternity far and wide and have featured in all the relevant soul music charts, Sweet Rhythms, UK Soul Charts and the Mi- Soul Connoisseurs as well as the American Indie Soul Top 30. There is an abundance of quality soul and R&B tinged songs, the much loved and sought after title track ‘Back To Life’, which utilises the riff from a Jones Girls classic ‘Who Can I Run To’. A twist on the soul club anthem ‘Thinking of you’, a massive perennial staple originally performed by Sister Sledge. Most of the album has been written by Shaila, and showcases her ability to write great melodies and lyrics. What makes this album so appealing, is the fine balance between well crafted, uptempo, foot stompers, ‘Love like this’, ‘Break the Chain’ and the Soul Syndicate treatment to ‘That Place’ with its laidback, soothing, soulful house groove, tempered with the intimate haunting melodies of the soul ballad ‘Beautiful’ and the big bass slow jam ‘Don’t Ask Me To Stay’. The album has been produced by Everis Pellius and Phil ‘Phillo’ Nugent with contributions from Michael Daley and Les Jones. If you love soul and R&B, ‘Back to Life’ is a stunning album, worthy to sit in any soul music collection to be enjoyed for years to come.


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