TERRI WALKER Vinyl & CDs

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


UK neo-soul great Terri Walker drops her fifth album My Love Story, flaunting a pristine flavour and an impeccable ear for harmony. A short mini-album of defiance and rebirth, we hear Walker blend all manner of styles from classic soul to furtive gospel, implying a journey of unshackling herself from a paradigm that no longer serves her, and slowly moving to a more freeing space. A gradual tonal shift takes place, beginning with 'Finally Over You' but ending with a white-flag-wave, 'I Surrender'; feeding into the LP's themes of accountability and standing up for oneself, and judging by the melancholic warmth of the song, it's not hard to tell that this is an acquiescence of the best kind.

Review: UK neo-soul great Terri Walker drops her fifth album My Love Story, flaunting a pristine flavour and an impeccable ear for harmony. A short mini-album of defiance and rebirth, we hear Walker blend all manner of styles from classic soul to furtive gospel, implying a journey of unshackling herself from a paradigm that no longer serves her, and slowly moving to a more freeing space. A gradual tonal shift takes place, beginning with 'Finally Over You' but ending with a white-flag-wave, 'I Surrender'; feeding into the LP's themes of accountability and standing up for oneself, and judging by the melancholic warmth of the song, it's not hard to tell that this is an acquiescence of the best kind.

Review: First released a decade ago and revisited periodically ever since, Arftul and Ridney's collaboration with UK soul queen Terri Walker is a 21st century house classic. This 10th anniversary edition - released in limited numbers for Record Store Day 2023 - pairs fresh revisions with classic reworks. Michael Gray steps up with a funk-fuelled, disco-tinged revision, before the insanely talented Opolopo opts for a deeper, jazz-funk-flecked revision that's as classy as it is soulful. Elsewhere, Eric Kupper's 'Directors Cut Tribute To FK' version is a strings-and-piano-laden treat, while Ridney's own 'Rework' is a tasteful, piano-sporting deep house shuffler.