Penrose US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Sitting back to back, with their silhouettes filtered through lamplight and street smoke, neo-soul duo The Altons have returned with two slow, gushing jams. Adjacent to the local jazz club's neon signage comes the blissful harmonies of Bryan Ponce and Adriana Flores on 'Tangled Up In You', a hurtful song that carries with it a tinge of psych rock. The B-side duet, 'Soon Enough', sparsely fuses traditional jazz instruments for a lovers' reunion song. For all the soft-hearted among us, don't miss this one.

Review: The Altons turn up the heat with another platter produced by the Inland Empire's own, Bosco Mann. A soulful duet at its core, 'Float' finds the group exploring new realms of pop excellence. The sophisticated arrangement and instrumentation gives the tune a cinematic feel that builds to a crescendo of psychedelic, swirling of strings - immersing the listener in a wash of Morricone-tinged euphoria. A track that wouldn't be out of place in the next 007 blockbuster. On the flip is "Cry for Me", a latin-tinged mover featuring Adriana Flores on lead vocal. Her pleading, soulful delivery gives the bouncy, hook-laden tune a seriousness that's simultaneously uplifting and heartbreaking.

Review: The Altons are a product of the South LA scene's love of indie soul and the duo - who expand to five members for live shows - display their unique charms on this double-sided 7". It's a perfect introduction to their sound, showcasing their tight harmonies, evocative songwriting and undeniable chemistry. 'Waiting' sets the tone with its sultry, downtempo groove, Adriana Flores and Bryan Ponce sharing vocal duties, their interplay creating a delightful dialogue that speaks to the complexities of love and longing. On the flip, 'Teach Me to Forget You' picks up the pace with a shoulder-shimmying rhythm and Adriana's soulful vocals that offer a bittersweet ode to lost love.

Review: Here comes a truly show-stopping swooner on Penrose, the sublabel of the ever-trusty Daptone Records. This is the first solo outing for Jensine Benitez, who is usually found singing with Thee Sacred Souls, a hard-gigging outfit who always send the crowd home elated after Benitez takes centre stage. With her bandmates on hand to provide back-up duties, we get treated to a pair of dreamy soul songs that capture a little 50s swing which gels beautifully with Benitez's arresting voice. Both tracks are downtempo lullabies perfect for those intimate, wind-down moments with the one you love. Trust us, this is some seriously romantic stuff.

Review: Hailing from Las Vegas, Johnny Ruiz and the Escapers offer up two sides of haunting group sounds sure to scratch the itches of doo-wop and soul enthusiasts alike. Adorning the a-side is 'Sorry' a stark, creeping, dirge-like ballad with a sparse rhythm track that swings eerily underneath Johnny's sublime lead and the Escapers plaintive harmonies, creating an hypnotic vibe that will have you dropping the needle over and over again. Continuing with the dark vibes but picking up the pace a couple BPMs, 'The Prettiest Girl' brings a measure of hopefulness to the tune, evoking the earnest, lovelorn memories of youth. A must for fans of Nolan Strong and the Diablos Fortune Records output.

Review: On his debut 45, Junior Scaife shows us he's a vocal heavyweight, whose prowess on the mic is tantamount to the pen. Backed by house band The Penrose Scholars and co-written by producer Anthony Masino, 'When My Heart Breaks' is a bouncy stepper with feel-good vibes and groove in equal measure, serving up a Brenton Wood-esque blast of sunshine and soul. On the flip is 'Moment To Moment', a gorgeous, bluesy ballad with a vocal performance that transcends the trappings of lesser tunes, giving it a depth and seriousness that takes you by the heart and mind to a place where longing and love reign supreme.

Review: Junior Scaife delivers two ensouled sides, produced and co-written by Penrose mainstay Anthony Masino. One of the most gifted vocalists in the soulscape of today, Scaife infuses every note with a shrill sprechgesang, a longing, heaving intonation heard between the runs. 'Nobody Gets My Love' is an ode to tensions of love and pride, wielding the late-60s Hestor and Wylie Detroit sound as a listless instrument for impudence. On the B, 'Too Much Too Soon', offers a slow-burning ballad laced with wah guitar and a comparatively elegance, marking a standout for the lowrider soul crowd.

Review: Penrose is a brand new "sub-division" of much-loved revivalist soul and funk label Daptone. It was established by main man (and producer extraordinaire) Bosco Mann to showcase soul and funk music from in and around Southern California, where his studio is now based. The imprint's first single comes courtesy of Thee Sacred Souls, a San Diego-based trio who recorded this fine debut single under Mann's watchful eye. A-side "Can I Call You A Rose" is particularly potent, with super-sweet lead and backing vocals rising above an emotive bed of glistening jazz guitar licks, slow drums and warming bass guitar. The future SoCal stars pick things up on the flip, delivering a retro-futurist, reverb-laden gem that reminded us a little of some of Mayer Hawthorne's most loved-up works.

Review: Thee Sacred Souls will have your head in a spin and your heart bulging with their new 7" for Spain's Penrose. The group consists of Alex Garcia, Josh Lane and Sal Samano and they have been releasing music since only 2020, all of it on this label, all of it excellent. Their fourth 45rpm is another timeless one that has all the old school aesthetics and frayed edges we love with some new school vocal gold. 'Trade Of Hearts' is a dreamy and woozy number that encourages day dreaming and then lush falsettos on 'Let Me Feel Your Charm' picks up the pace with a more dynamic groove for tender dance floors.

Review: Thee Sacred Souls made a big splash with their lovely debut album last year after a great run of singles. They came on the Penrose label in Spain and that is where they return now with a new limited 7". 'Running Away' opens up in frantic but soul fuelled fashion with quick and slick drums and gorgeous vocal falsettos up top. Things slow down and take a sentimental turn on the flip with 'Love Comes Easy', featuring aching vocal yearns and expressive sax lines heightening the mood. Tow more gems from this ever more prominent outfit.

Review: Thee Sacred Souls dropped a well-received debut album last year after a great run of singles, all of which came on the Penrose label out of Spain. They have already started with more singles post that LP and 'Future Lover' is next up. The title tune takes up the a-side with its slow-motion soul, languid guitar licks and gorgeous vocal harmonies. Fans of Leon Bridges or Khruangbin will love this one. 'For Now' then strips right back to a beautiful falsetto and star-gazing guitar that makes you ache for you don't know what, but it's a lovely feeling.

Review: The Daptone label, renowned for its modern yet classically soulful sound, recently hosted the outstanding debut album from Thee Sacred Souls. Produced by Daptone co-founder Gabriel Roth, the record exuded endless warmth and texture and combined 60s soul with 70s r&b with heartrending vocals and poignant rhythms. Now the whole thing has been stripped back to its instrumental core and gets served up here on a standalone limited red vinyl album. It's just as good in this format as the original and allows the skilfulness of the musicians to really shine.

Review: After two years of nonstop touring following their highly praised debut album, Thee Sacred Souls are back with 'Lucid Girl,' the lead single from their upcoming second album, Got a Story to Tell. The track features a robust beat and rich arrangement, with vocalist Josh Lane delivering a soulful performance that belies his youth. The song narrates an empowering story of a girl who clearly prioritises her own needs over those of potential suitors. On-Side 2, 'Losing Side of Love,' complements the single perfectly. This 7" release is ideal for vibrant DJ sets and is sure to resonate with fans old and new.

Review: Since launching last year, Daptone founder Bosco Mann's Penrose imprint has done a terrific job in delivering seven-inch singles that showcase the best of southern California's revivalist soul scene. This compilation features a mixture of previously released gems and unheard material from the label's growing roster of artists. Highlights are plentiful throughout, with our picks including the heartfelt, piano-sporting brilliance of 'Nobody's Clown' by Lost Yesterdays, the Motown style stomp of Jason Joshua's 'Language of Love', the close harmony bliss of Thee Sacred Souls' 'Will I See You Again' and the slow-burn sweetness of the Altons' EP-closing 'Tangled Up in You'. In a word: superb!