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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