Nikko Gray – Love Seen | EP Review

Nikko Gray’s Love Seen EP has something of the nostalgic about it. Her artistry is firmly planted in 2010 nevertheless Nikko’s songs would not be out of place on the playlist of a late night quiet storm radio session circa 10-15 years ago. No wonder her take on Aaliyah’s ‘4 Page Letter’ was one of the highlights of SoulCulture’s 2009 Revisited download.

With the help of co-executive producer Nevin J Thomas, Gray has created a very laidback and seductive listening experience on Love Seen. Vocally Nikko straddles both the contemporary and the pseudo-classic conjuring alternately the spirit of Faith Evans and Beyoncé Knowles. Still, there’s every indication that Gray hasn’t lost her own voice in the mix. Read more

Jamie Lidell – Compass | Album Review

From time to time I’ve found myself wondering why Jamie Lidell is not more of a household name. With some catchy-yet-credible singles under his belt, and an impressive retro voice you would think he’d have at least garnered the type of attention bestowed on his namesake and less-vocally-talented Jazz counterpart Jamie Cullum.

Looking like a science geek who harbours a kinky secret, one wouldn’t expect that kind of voice to come out of Lidell. And it’s a vocal style peculiar to English soul boys; from Jay Kay, Lewis Taylor and erstwhile Artful Dodger collaborator Robbie Craig to a pre-pop/rock Jamie Scott and more recently Mamas Gun lead singer, Andy Platts. Lidell’s voice however is possibly the most authentically soulful out of the lot, which should be riposte enough to those music journos who have rather unfairly labelled his sound as affected.

On his previous two records, 2005’s Multiply and 2008’s Jim by his own admission – and as observed by critics – Lidell purposefully moved away from Electronica, his former base to focus on material that would best showcase his voice. He succeeded too; the production on both Jim and Multiply sounded convincingly vintage without being gimmicky or over-done.

On his latest effort, Compass, Jamie experiments with different soundscapes Read more

’90s Classics feat. Adriana Evans, Whitehead Brothers, Janet Jackson, TLC, Monica & More | Video Flashback

It was my getting old-day recently; yet another rude awakening that my 30s will soon come a-knocking. The plus side of being an old-timer is the clarity of memory of classic tunes from the last golden era of R&B. So I’m back with more jewels to make you go all gooey with nostalgia.

Adriana Evans – “Seeing is Believing…”

The honey-licious Adriana released her self titled first album during Neo-Soul’s height in 1997. She is still going strong even though the kind of success that beset Erykah Badu and others has eluded her. I suspect Miss Evans might have been a casualty of the Neo-Soul backlash. Oh well, ‘Seeing…’ remains for me one of the best debut singles of the 90s if not beyond. A damn good tune, a great showcase for her angelic tone and a very classy vid. Why this wasn’t a monster hit I’m not sure I’ll ever understand.

Goodfellaz – “Sugar Honey Iced Tea”

Really and truly this should have made it into my One Hit Wonder list; it was a mere oversight. 1997 was the year again. Solid tune from the Goodfellaz boys. Unfortunately their follow up was a lot more pedestrian.

Whitehead Bros – “Forget I Was A G”

As far as I’m concerned this really needs no introduction. ‘You’re Love is A 187′?-pah! It isn’t a patch on this. The guitar riff and bassline of ‘..I Was A G’ alone easily makes it one of the greatest R&B/soul songs of that decade. A stone cold classic. Everybody sing, ‘Get down and pray…’

Ahmad – “Back In The Day”

Thought I had to post this one after Jazzy Jeff gave a nod to it on his Summer classics mixtape. It’s the rally-call for reminiscing.

Portrait – “Lovin’ U Is A’Ight” and Nicole Renée – “Strawberries”

I couldn’t choose between these two. Both use the same sample. Portrait used it first back in the great summer of 1995 and I prefer what they did with it. Still, Nicole did a good job too and hers was the bigger hit (video was a bit of a let down though). I recall having the single on cassette circa 1998. Come to think of it, Nicole was hailed by some music journos as the female Prince; whatever became of her? Another case for the One Hit Wonder file.

Janet Jackson – “Go Deep”

Once again I had this single on cassette. There was a really funky Timbaland/Missy remix too. Very underrated Janet tune.

Les Nubians feat The Roots – “Tabou” (Remix)

It’s a brave soul that takes on a Sade cover, let alone one as perfect as ‘Sweetest Taboo’. Nevertheless this dreamy B-Side of the ‘Makeda’ single by Afro-Francophone sisters Les Nubians shows it can be done and beautifully so. Black Thought’s 16 bars sit so well in the middle too.

Monica – “Like This and Like That”

I must admit I’m not a Monica fan; her voice was always a little too affected for me and she comes across as a bit of an ice maiden. Yet there’s no denying those singles from her first album ‘Miss Thang’ were pretty damn special. ‘Like This and Like That’ is an absolute blinder. Plus Malik‘s rap is so hard not to like!

Toni Braxton – “Another Sad Love Song”

Again, I’m not a Toni fan for similar reasons to that of Monica but this anti-love song anthem (and I am a fan of those) is possibly her finest hour and a large feather in Babyface‘s already impressive cap. Although I’m more partial to the album version I posted the mix below because I’ve always liked the ad libs towards the end.

Here’s a bonus video. TLC – “Creep” might seem an obvious choice and it is; more so than I’d usually allow. However I just discovered this delicious, sparsely arranged, smoothed-out remix by Eddie ‘You Know What’s Up’ F. Enjoy.

Phew so many from which to choose and so many that didn’t make it in this time around. I suppose I’ll have to do another one again soon.

Mayra Andrade & Calypso Rose @BarbicanCentre | Live Review

More summer exposure to music from the Lusophone world continued Saturday 24 July with Cape Verdean beauty Mayra Andrade and band live at the Barbican Centre.

There was a change of support act as advertised and the audience were instead warmed up by Caribbean music legend Calypso Rose. It was clear she meant business when on making her grand entrance her shoes got stuck in her floor-length gown and she dealt with the problem by flinging them off unceremoniously. At 70 years old she hasn’t lost any of her fervour; she’s still partial to winding her hips, shaking her booty at the audience and the odd saucy innuendo. Read more

Rox – Memoirs | Album Review

The debut album from UK sensation Rox Tataei truly lives up to its name. This is indeed a warts-and-all exposé of her romantic history so far.  From regret over the one that got away (‘Heart Ran Dry’) to recounting the unhinged antics of her current beau’s ex-girlfriend- a menace to the happiness of her relationship (hidden track ‘Gallais’), Rox does not hold back.

Such honesty can provoke one of two reactions from the listener-either it isolates us because it’s all a little too personal or it endears us to the artist, as if we’re being let into their confidence.  In this instance it’s a case of the latter, thanks to Rox’ lovely alchemy of memorable melodies and well-crafted lyrics. Read more

Broken Bells | Album Review

The name of good ’80s music has too often been taken in vain of late with many wannabes riding the retro bandwagon.  They abuse the synth by over-use, totally missing the point of what made that particular decade stand out – its diversity and, more importantly, its innovation. Yet once in a while you hear something that evinces the spirit of the last musical golden age so accurately you could mistake it for a recently discovered long-lost ’80s gem.

Broken Bells’ delicious self-titled electro-indie debut – the love child of producer Danger Mouse and Shins frontman James Mercer – is such a record.  Try to pin down its influences to a single source and you come unstuck; there are just so many overlaps.   Read more

An Orchestra At His Fingertips: Introducing Matti Roots

You could be forgiven for assuming, at first glance, that singer/songwriter Matt Goodman – better known as Matti Roots - thinks he’s too cool for school.  We’re sitting in one of the many eateries that dot the plush new shopping plaza in London’s Victoria. Sporting shades, a number one, designer stubble and a cucumber demeanour, Roots looks quite the archetypal Blues man.

The dark glasses stay on for the duration of our interview, Matti only removing them momentarily to reveal large hazel eyes with cow-lashes. Still, although he might look the part he thankfully doesn’t have the Rock’n’Roll ego.  Relaxed whilst tucking into Wasabi peas (after first offering me some), Matti turns out to be quite the easy-going conversationalist, seasoning his anecdotes with cheeky wit and pearly-white smiles.

A classically trained pianist since the tender age of three he later picked up his brother’s saxophone at 12, eventually mastering that too.  Neither of his parents were music aficionados according to Roots and he was raised on a pop diet of the Beatles, Elton John and Neil Diamond as well as the classical music he discovered learning the piano.  It was at secondary school that he was introduced to Jazz greats such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane and his appetite for the genre grew.  This must have come in handy when Matti went on to compose instrumentals for Big Bands.  Dalliance with more contemporary production came with the ’90s DnB and Garage crazes.

“I used to sit at the computer making tunes,”  he tells SoulCulture. Read more

Kersha Bailey – FREE Download | New Music

Hands down one of my top unsigned artists for some time now and fresh from gracing the Lovebox stage on Friday, the lovely, highly talented singer-songwriter Miss Kersha Bailey finally gave her fans something on which to get our grubby mitts yesterday and 100% free. Those familiar with her live sets will find all her staples on there including her inspired interpretation of Jazz standard ‘Autumn Leaves’.

Follow the link to access the download.

You can keep up to date on Facebook with her week long Vlog leading up to the release, explaining the stories behind some of the songs. Below is a clip from Summer 2008 of Kersha and her terrific band Groove Control performing at a showcase I used to host. The song is ‘Promises’ one of my two Bailey favourites and this is, in my humble opinion, the best performance of it. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

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