SOUL RECOMMENDATIONS SEPTEMBER 2015

Review: Taken from Leroy's fourth album Hutson II (an album that many would argue was his richest vein of form), AOTN have selected two cuts that do well to express Leroy's versatility and skill. "I Think I'm Falling In Love" is a one-track reason why The Impressions hired Hutson to replace Mayfield; heartfelt, gutsy vocals delivered with a near spoken word solemnity, every inch of its power remains intact after 40 years. "Love To Hold You Close", meanwhile, is a much dreamier, yearning affair with lush sweeping strings and a silky finish that could woo the poet out of the coldest of souls.

Review: Oooh! Angie Stone's "Wish I Didn't Miss You" definitely belongs in the canon of all time modern soul classics. Taken from her 2001 second album Mahogany Soul, the Swizz Beats produced track made optimum usage of an O' Jays sample and was instrumental in that LP going gold and propelling the former D'Angelo collaborator to stardom. It also inspired countless official and under the counter remixes with Blaze's perhaps the most recognisable. So yes this reissue on 7" from Outta Sight is worthy if you don't have the original in your collection and features a housed up remix from Hex Hector on the flip.

Review: Unfettered soul from one of the most consistent, reliable and loveable soul acts in modern days. "One In A Million" rolls with a gossamer groove thanks to its light-touched Hammond bed, tight horns and even tighter guitars. As always, the real focus (unless you're dropping the instrumental) is Nicole. Honeyed vocals that can't be mistaken, she fronts the track with heartfelt sentiment and subtlety that's hard to find in many new singers. Yet another reason why their album Happiness In Every Style will be worth the wait.

Review: Athens of the North continue their irrepressible march towards the title of most active funk and soul archivalists of 2015 with the focus here on a band with a scarcity of recorded output. Formed in 1969, eight piece act Sage preferred the live stage to the studio, building a reputation for a full on blast of soul and funk. According to the Edinburgh label, this I'm Alive 7" popped up out of nowhere some eight years ago, with obscure label Head Records originally pressing it in 1977. Our thanks go to AOTN for granting the two track release a much wider audience! The Latin horns and sunshine soul sound of the title track are complemented nicely by the flipside ballad "Song for Yvonne".