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Review: During the various lockdowns of 2020 and '21, Crazy P delved deep into their vaults to see what unfinished songs were lurking in the dustier corners of the archive. These were then used as inspiration for new, finished and polished versions. This seven-inch contains two fine examples of this repurposing process. A-side 'If Life Could Be This Way' is suitably strong - a heart-aching, bittersweet chunk of laidback melancholia that sits somewhere between blue-eyed soul, Balearica and hazy West Coast jazz-rock. It's sure to be a fan favourite in years to come. 'How Could I Know' meanwhile is similarly horizontal, with tear-jerking (electronic) string sounds and a fine lead vocal from Danielle Moore clustering around a clicking, lo-fi drum machine beat

Review: It's hard to keep up with the number of releases that Athens Of The North are putting out this month, but you really must try. This one is a gooey and loved up disco 12" from the dream team pairing of Tom Findlay from Groove Armada and James Alexander Bright. They hook up via mutual appreciation over Twitter and worked up a load of new material in the studio as Bright & Findlay. Their first offering 'Slow Dance' is perfection - lush 80s synths, slow-motion boogie beats and drum machines marbled with little guitar riffs and soulful vocals that ate you to a better place. Two further heart melters come on the flip side and we are already in love with this project.

Review: Following the excellent excavation of the Miami band's unreleased album Best Kept Secret, AOTN's Fryer treats us to his two favourite cuts on a 500-only never-to-be-repressed 45. Seeped in powerful vocal harmonies, "Let Go" is rare groove gold with smooth sax and a dynamic that keeps on surprising while "Will You Be There" is an end of night soul shakedown with a tenderness that's tangible in every element. Don't sleep on this... Or the album. One of AOTN's most exciting releases this year.

Review: Colemine step up with another sure shot of impeccable modern soul, this time coming from Australian outfit Dojo Cuts. 'Here We Are' is a slow jam with sadness in its heart, but it hits hard. That's in no small part down to the impassioned vocal turn from Carlton Jumel Smith, who gets his message across with conviction on this classically styled ballad. One for rainy days and poignant moments, with the instrumental on the flip when you want the music to carry you away.

Review: Eddie Carmichael started Mirror having left his previous band The Voshays when he caught their manager stealing. He formed it with Derry Shepherd, Sandy Ficca, Duncan Bethel, bass player Dave Segal, Bob Groszer on keys and Flynn Emanuel to play trombone. They were regular performers on Miami Beach and recorded only a few tunes, but what tunes they were. It is said that had the band had a better manager they could have gone on to be one of the best of their era. Either way, at least we have these two dazzling disco and soul gems.

Review: Jazzman dip into the unreleased archives of Arkansas label Alley Records and pull out these two absolute gems that will find a welcome home in any self respecting Northern Soul or Funk selectors record box. This dinked 45 from Ike Noble and The Uptights is just the start for Jazzman with further sevens plus an albums worth of material planned after a successful trip to Arkansas. If you like your funk rippling with overwhelming vocal emotion you will love the raw and infectious nature of both "That's The Sound Of My Heart" and "That's What I Get". The A Side leans on an uptempo Midwestern funk vibe whilst Ike's tearing vocal turn on the flip is the perfect accompaniment to a pounding backing from the Up Tights.

Review: For a classic 7" that makes you wish you could have experienced the rock and roll and blues heyday, these two dusty gems by Lavern Baker and Jackie Wilson are a great start. Taken from 1960, "Bumble Bees" by Baker is a chiming, doo-wop sing-a-long love song with a tastefully disgruntled character, while Baker & Wilson provide the excellent and X-rated "Think Twice", which sings about taboo topics like cocaine, pussy and reefa. It also boasts lyrics like 'son of a bitch', 'I aint gonna kiss your ass no more' and 'I've had enough of your shit' - not to mention the other out-there obscenities for the time which include references to oral sex. Lil Kim and Khia - eat your heart out!

Review: British singer/songwriter Tom Wardle has enjoyed rather a lot of success in the United States, though his star has yet to ascend in the UK. Perhaps this first ever vinyl outing, courtesy of New York imprint It's Soul Time, will change that. 'I Could Have Been a Millionnaire' sits somewhere between blue-eyed soul, Steely Dan style West Coast rock and glassy-eyed yacht-rock, with Wardle making his presence felt over a sweet, string-laden backing track. Arguably even better is boisterous and up-tempo flipside 'Let Your Love Shine Out', which sees the Nottingham-raised troubadour join the dots between Northern Soul, rhythm & blues and Crowded House.

Review: Excavated from vaults of the Weiss Brothers' longstanding NYC imprint Old Time Records, Beverly McKay's gutsy tales have massaged soul floors for those lucky to have a 200 pound 45. "Say It With Feeling" hits with big backing vocal harmonies before breaking into a classic midtempo bluesy arrangement while "Conscience" strikes with a little more eastern allure, staccato strings and a cat-prowling narrative. Timeless soul.

Review: Lorraine Silver is a fine Northern Soul singer who recently headlined a The Music of Northern Soul Live event in support of this new single. It's been produced by the one and only, legendary, pivotal producer that is Ian Levine and comes almost 56 years after her first single. 'Fever Ranging Out Of Control' is a quick and clipped floor filler with tight drums and plenty of luxuriant cymbals and tambourines next to Lorraine's sweet vocal. 'The Last To Know' is a wind-led, hip-swinging, finger-clicking gem that hits just as hard.

Review: Alanna Royale presents her debut single for Colemine, 'Fall In Love Again', in the wake of her upcoming LP. Produced by Kelly Finnigan of Monophonics fame, this entropic single is tinged with the retro fervour of slow-jam funk and soul, channelling the pains of a tried relationship.

Review: Parkside Records out of Las Vegas Nevada welcomes Seattle, Washington group True Loves, who have a nice and raw funk sound. Sunday Afternoon was their sophomore album and it came in 2021 following 2017's debut. This tidy 7" package features new Live On KEXP remix of the title track and it has sensuous saxes played in expressive fashion next to rousing horns and over the nice and lazy but dynamic funk drum work. 'On The Spot' closes down with a more lively percussive sounds vibrant stabs and plenty of big energy.

Review: It's five up for the Palmetto Street label and this one finds them turning to Ben Pirani & The Means Of Production who manage to again find new ground in this great EP. The lead single from the 7" is a soft and melancholic sad song with none other than Brian Jackson (who collaborated with Gil Scott Heron) playing the flute parts. He cuts through the smokey mood with daring harmonies while on the flip things get even more forceful with 'Something So Precious'. Pirani goes it alone on the vocals for this one while a strong quartert adds the sumptuous melodies.

Review: We have long had a soft spot for the sounds that come out of DC label People's Potential Unlimited, which is affectionately known as PPU. It's always lo-fi but hi-class whether in original or reissue form. It's the latter here with leftfield Estonian artist Uku Kuut's 'Funky' 7" reappearing on wax. The opener is all singing synth lines and jumbled analogue drum funk with an oddball vocal and generally stuffy arrangement making it all the more lovable. On the flip is 'What's Happening Today', another unusual mix of sounds - synth, disco, funk and goofy vocals that will have the floor in a spin.

Review: Philadelphia band Stereo League (which is comprised of childhood friends Alex Savoth and Dan King) always looks to discover new genres whether working alone or with like-minded collaborators. This latest 7" is another on the synth and soul label Eraserhood Sound and features two more timeless sounds. The opener 'Operator, Please' a delightfully seductive and reminiscent of 70s soul and funk, while on the back, 'Seasons of Trouble' layers in the Philly soul, with fancy funk sounds and classic yet compelling grooves.

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