Released: 2009

Massive rework of Aretha’s classic “One step ahead” by Featurecast! Turning it into a slow, uplifting hiphop anthem for the summer! Of course, the original was also  popularized by its use in Mos Def’s “Ms. Fat Booty” back in 1999.

I’ve been a big fan of Featurecast for some time now, after first picking up “Channel surfing” back in 2004. That release was on the groovy Catskills label and achieved commercial prominence after it was used in the famous iPod silhouette ads.

The other side sees Loot Beggar mash up Amy Winehouse (“love is a loosing game”) and Alton Ellis – and the result is a spaced out reggae interpretation. Half decent, but it is all about Featurecasts work on this release.

I speak highly of the Wah Wah 45s label and its limited pressings on Wah Dubplate. Check out one of last years mashup favourites for me – Marvin’s Holla. 

Wah Wah 45s | MySpace | Fat City | Picadilly Records |

Released: 05/2009

More magic from the soul extraordinaire! After moving out of the heart of northern soul of Detroit and joining forces with Peanut Butter Wolf’s Stones Throw label in L.A. this mans career have taken off! It was the beautiful debut “Just ain’t working out” that caught my attention – and if you haven’t checked it out you know what to do!  

His voice reminds me of Bob Dylan and the production is up there with the best soul music on Motown and Staxx. ”Maybe so, Maybe no” Starts out with electronic, spaced out harp – then breaks down into a driving, chorus backed vocal gem. So uplifting and inspirational. On the flip you get the lovely “I wish it would rain“.

Stones Throw | MySpace |

Released: 07/04/2009

There is usually a few albums that stand out of the pile of records and end up being the soundtrack of the summer. Albums by Just Jack and Plantlife have previously created the perfect summer vibe for me. This year it will be Kero One. 

“Early believers” creates a joyful spirit of optimism. Hip-hop, jazz and soul perfectly blended together in well balanced arrangements, with strong lyrics sung by great vocalists such as personal favorites Ben Westbeech and Tuomo. 

The soundscape is truely organic – honest, personal stories accompanied by fender rhodes, beats, strings and acoustic guitars that gives the sound a live presence. You get that feel good vibe of an intimate concert for just you and your best friends barbecuing on a blanket in the park. My favorite is “When the sunshine comes” one of many examples of how Kero One captures this atmosphere.

“Early Believers” is the San Fransisco arists second album after “Windmills of the soul” (2005), a release that was successfull first in Japan. And if you are familiar with the new jazz and hip-hop coming from Japan you will easily understand why Kero One struck a chord with that audience. “Windmills of the soul”  gave him the opportunity to work with Talib Kweli and tour with KRS-One and EPMD.

A true DIY artist that have worked ever so hard to get the recognition his music deserves, both albums have been put out on his own Plug Label imprint. He has got his hands on most elements of the process, including vocals, production and instrumentation, art design, promotion, and web design. The DIY attitude and determination is expressed through the lyrics, exemplified in the words of “Keep Pushin” – And most these critics, That’s dissin’ or said I’m trippin’, Thank you for picking me up, I ain’t quitting or giving it up”. 

As Kero proudly proclaims he’s bringing “hiphop with a signature sound” yet  ” not saying I’m breaking ground”. Critics will point to the lack of hidden themes and literary mechanisms – but I think the straight forward, no nonsense storytelling is portrayed with real charm and character. No hard stereotypical hip-hop clichés about women, money and violence. 

Get yourself a copy!

Kero1.com | MySpace | YouTube | Amazon |

Released: 28/08/2008

I just discovered this label, and found out that I missed the release by Will “Quantic” Holland. Well, never to late is it? Got to mention the  release schedule – Two releases in the summer of 2006, then almost two years until it reappearad last summer.

Anyway, Marula Soulfood caters for a feast – bossa, soul, funk, blues – “Feeling alright” is the fourth release, and it is brand new. The track it is a fast, flute fueled funk monster with a massive vocal. Chip himself is playing both flute and sax on the track, while he  is assisted by Dominic Buckley on drums, Dan ‘Bootsy’ Broad on guitar, Morgan Pugh on bass and the wonderful Emma Ellis on vocals. 

Chip was originally based in Manchester before moving out to Madrid. He has written, produced and re-mixed for labels such as Freestyle, Kingstreet, Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, Mr Bongo, Universal, Sony and Soulfuric. His sax and flute credits include Nightmares on Wax, The New Mastersounds, Aim, Rae & Christian, Roy Ayres, Badly Drawn Boy, Jimpster, Grupo X, The Resin Dogs, The Sweet Vandals and the soundtrack to the Guy Ritchie movie “Snatch”. He is also one third of the Malena outfit signed to Freestyle Records.

MySpace | Soul Seduction | Juno Download |

Released: 23/04/2008

My second favorite artist from Finland, just edged out by Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators. ”Don’t take it too hard” is an exquisite piece of music, right out of the golden age of the 70′s northern soul – It is cheerful, driving and sweet.

Tuomo (born as Tuomo Prättälä, 1979) is a soul-singer, jazz pianist, composer, lyricist and producer. After Sibelius Senior Secondary School of Music, Helsinki Conservatory of Pop and Jazz and the civil service as sound engineer in the Finnish Theater Academy, he started his career as a professional musician. He has released two albums, “My thing” in 2007 and this years “Reaches out for you” – both highly recommended.

It is a true sign of quality when you can listen to a song a million times like I have with this one, and it will fit in on any soul compilation you ever choose to make. The single is taken from his debut album and also include “Ourselves” a slow Stevie Wonder’ish ballad.

Tuomo | YouTube | SoulSeduction | Juno | MySpace |

Released: 20/01/2009

Once known as Platinum Pied Pipers, Waajeed and Saadiq reinvent themselves with more than a name change. On their second album for the magnificent Ubiquity label, the group delivers a contemporary twist of old Motown influences, creating a brilliant and distinct collection of funk and soul. 

While Detroit seems doomed in most of the media due to its dependence of its automobile industry, the motor town’s hip-hop scene has more positive vibes at the moment. 

Wajeed first started producing back in 2000, when he was given a broken piece of equipment by J Dilla, which he was told he could keep if he could fix it. Just years later, he released the seminal Platinum Pied Pipers debut album “Triple P” together with Saadiq back in 2005. The combination of funk, soul, and hiphop struck a chord with audiences worldwide and established the duo as sought after producers, while launching the career of vocalist Tiombe Lockhart. 

The first single, “On a cloud“, is a good starting point when getting to know this album. With organic drums, full band and powerful soul vocals – it could have come straight out of Brighton. Another song I love is “Pigeon hole”, a slow soul number that is perfect for those slow dances. To showcase the albums diversity, I would also like to pull out “Sanctuary”, a song that is along the same the same lines as 4 Hero, with lots of strings and slow beats. ”Abundance” a full package that is organic enough to feel spontaneous, yet sophisticated enough without loosing the over-produced. 

Vocalist Karma Stewart is a new acquaintance, and one I will be keeping tabs on in the time to come. Her vocals are all over this album, and along with Coultrain both vocalists sound truely at home in Wajeed and Saadiq’s productions. The duo has also returned the favor and produced her debut EP (Coultrain have written the lyrics). The 4-track CD was originally sold at PPP shows all across Europe last fall – but now Karma & PPP have decided to give the EP away for free as a preview of both Karma’s upcoming (you get some bonus material as well!).

Ubiquity | MySpace | Juno | Amazon |

Released: 03/11/2006

Guess I am late discovering this artist, as the album was released almost two years ago. It caught my attention when “This Is What You Are” and “I cant keep from cryin’ sometimes” was released on the German label Unique last month – a record that has been on heavy rotation in Norman Jay’s program Giant 45 on BBC London. It was originally released under the moniker of Was A Bee back in the Spring of 2004. 

“Handful of Soul” is an album ranging between jazz and soul – it swings from smooth vocal melodies to rhythmic tracks you can dance to. Biondi is superbly accompanied by the High Five Quintet, a group that have released two albums (for the label Via Veneto Jazz), and encountered success at the most important jazz festivals like Paris Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz, Brianza Open Jazz, Clusone Jazz Festival and Teano Jazz. 

Mario is a white Sicilian from Catania, Italy – but there he certainly is capable of expressing his soul. Biondi have interpreted a lot of original American classics, songs he originally doubted he was able to reproduce stylistically. Songs such as “Slow Hot Wind” and “On A Clear Day”, or even  the title track “A Handful Of Soul”. But his deep and warm voice, and soulful passionate signing shines throughout the album.

MySpace | Soul Seduction | Amazon | Unique Records | Fat City

Released: 15/07/1975

Another record from one of my favorite soul singer – Minnie Riperton (check out my post about “Reasons“).”Inside my love” is taken from the “Adventures in paradise” album and is a brilliant, sensual and fragile love song, performed with the sweetest voice very few artists can match to this day. Minnie was one of the few that totally mastered a five-octave-and-a-half vocal range – and just look how she really kills it live. Fantastic. 

The whole soul community was devestated when she passed away at the age of 31 – But her music lives on. There are some good re-interpretations of the song – worth mentioning is the house mix by Jean Jaques Smoothie from back in 2002, and of course Kenny Dope’s “Get on down” which really made good use of the sample.

I have included it in my Spotify playlist, where you also find “Reasons” among other great tracks.

YouTube | Minnieriperton.com | YouTube | Amazon | Last Fm |

Released: 06/11/2000

When Mark Rae started Grand Central back in 1995, it was in response to the bustling hive of activity that his Manchester record shop Fat City had turned into. The likes of Aim, Only Child, Rae & Christian, Boca45 and Riton constantly in the shop looking old records and new beats. At some point, probably whilst looking out over a rain-soaked Oldham Street, it occurred to him that he had established a breeding-ground for talent. Unfortunately, the label ceased to exist back in 2006 – but the artists and their music still lives on.

Taken from the album “Satellites & Constellations” the record I have picked out was engineered and mixed by Mark Rae’s partner in crime – Steve Christian. Kriminul lay down the vocals. There is also a Nextmen remix of “I’ve got a right” out, but my copy is “part two” of the release and includes the LP mix of “I’ve got a right” along with “Space disco latino” and the Aquanote remix of “Getting it on”. All good tracks that I have been playing a lot though the years. 

“Getting it on” is a soulful slow groover, with a lovely little piece of vocal, while “Space disco latin” takes the sound into disco territory, with just the right amount of filter, strings and funk fueled guitar – It slowly builds without the need to lift off. Perfect for those afterhours where you don’t really know if you wanna chill or continue to dance. But it is the title track that never really left my mind. It brilliantly samples Sarah Vaughn’s “I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues” and “Coming Soon” by Slave, and Kriminul laying down some great vocals that adds the hiphop element to accompany the beats. Love it!

Searching for the track online, I couldn’t find any of the tracks, or even Sarah Vaughn’s original. I find that amazing – someone sort it out! This is too good to be left in some dusty discography!

Grand Central | MySpace | Fat City

Released: Not yet!

Being on MySpace has a lot of positives, even though the site has been branded a “virtual trailerpark” due to its interface. But as a community it is brilliant as there are so many fresh artists there to be discovered. The other day I was introduced to the yet unsigned act Sound Captives, and I am thrilled they got in touch. 

Behind the moniker are two familiar faces. Raj Gupta (aka Ray Mang) and Pete Zivkovic, was both part of Block 16 (together with Glen Gunner), who released the wonderful “Morning Sun” album on the brilliant Nuphonic label. The pair have been based in London for the last fifteen years making and releasing music under various guises and with numerous people. Now they have teamed up and dig deep into into their myriad of influences from exotica, soul and 60’s moog, through to orchestral and world music, to produce a captivating new aural experience for your listening pleasure.  

Between them, Raj and Pete have worked with a range of artists including Mylo, Zero 7, Roxy Music, Denim, Ian Brown, Xpress 2 and Donovan. The pair last worked together on the Block 16 album ‘Morning Sun’ which was released on the brilliant Nuphonic Records. They are also well known for their remix work which covers a varied roster, including Bloc Party, Terry Callier, Shirley Bassey and Freddie Mercury. 

Those influences and more can be heard on their new tracks. The key track for me being “Every minute every hour”, a beautiful ballade with lots of spirit, soul and emotion. Could easily be placed with Terry Callier in your collection, but after this debut expect to give the duo a more prominent place. 

Sound Captives debut album “After Silence” was recently completed and I am looking forward to the release once the duo signs with a label. In the mean time, visit their MySpace site to listen to their music…