THE HARLEM GOSPEL TRAVELERS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Last year, NYC based revivalist "gospel quartet" group the Harlem Gospel Travelers finally made their vinyl debut album after five years wowing audiences on the live circuit. 12 months later, they're finally ready to release their first full-length excursion. A nostalgic trip through 1950s and 1960s style gospel-based rhythms and blues, soul, funk and doo-wop, the album's greatest strength - aside from the authenticity of the music and production of course - is the group's incredible vocals. Brilliantly arranged harmonies play a big part, though the lead vocals (shared between all four members) are little less than stunning.

Review: The Harlem Gospel Traveler's much loved second album Look Up won the group plenty of fans so this follow up release is much anticipated indeed. 'Help Me To Understand' comes with the heavenly vocals of Aaron Frazer and was written and produced by Eli "Paperboy" Reed. It's a tune defined by its spine tinging vocal harmonies and lullaby like melodies with emotive acoustic guitars adding extra layers of lushness. As well as that new tune, this 45rpm comes backed with the still superb title track from the aforementioned album.