THE FRED MOSS BAND Vinyl & CDs

Review: Shreveport-born musician Fred Moss has spent decades as a session player, touring sideman and mentor, but tucked between those gigs were his own soulful recordings, long shelved until now. Athens Of The North unearths two gems from the vault, reworked from original multitracks and pressed to 7" with care. 'Stay Away' is a silky, gospel-schooled stepper with enough lift and longing to rival any modern soul holy grail. On the flip, a tightly swung slice of 70s funk - full of snap, sass and syncopation - geared toward adventurous Northern selectors. It's the first time any of Moss's solo work has seen the light, and the label's made sure the mix and cut do it justice.