MoreSoul [2020] - Puzzles Of Life [MoreSoul Productions] (Full Album)

This is the second album I've come across recently emanating from South Africa, the other being Clauds excellent album 'Identities' posted a few days ago and yet another release towards the end of last year on 23 Oct 2020.

I think this one could be almost as good as Clauds after a first listen.  The 'killer' track is  'Keep Holding On', but there are few other goodies on the album, 'Disbelief' and 'Beyond The Star' jump out.  It's real mixed bag of styles, soul, jazz, African.

Listen to Full Album here

Keep Holding On

Tammy Harris [2020] - Love Don't Mean A Thing [Rootsoul Productions] (Full EP)

Following up her 'Chicagology' album from last year which spawned one of the best tracks of the year ('You're So Good To Me') is 4 track EP from Tammy Harris - 'Love Don't Mean A Thing' released 25 Dec 2020.

It includes an acoustic version of John Lennon's 'Imagine'.

Love Don't Mean A Thing

Tammy Harris [2020] Chicology [Rootsoul Productions] (Full Album)

Tammy Harris is a singer, writer and producer from Chicago who released an album of covers of Chicago legends called 'Chicology' on 2 Oct 2020.

She's been around since 2003, her earlier releases include 'Can't Keep A Good Woman Down' (2003), 'Natural Vibe' (2007) and 'Love' (2019). 

Chicology pays tribute to many Chicago greats with covers of the following:

Minnie Riperton (Baby, This Love I Have) from Adventures In Paradise 1975

Curtis Mayfield (You're So Good To Me) from Heartbeat 1979 (also B side to Between You And Me Baby 45) 

Chaka Khan (Everlasting Love) 1977

Miki Howard (Ain't Nobody Like You) 1992

Womack & Womack (Baby I'm Scared Of You) 1983

Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (Back Together Again) 1979

Quincy Jones (Feat. Patti Austin) (Betcha' Wouldn't Hurt Me) 1981

Earth, Wind & Fire (Philip Bailey) (I'll Write a Song for You) from All 'N All 1977 (also B side to Got to Get You Into My Life 45 in 1978

Five Stairsteps (O-o-o Child) 1970

Staple Singers (Curtis Mayfield song) (Let's Do It Again) 1975 

Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (You Are My Heaven) 1979

Listen to the Full Album here

Tammy Harris [2019] - Love [Self-Released] (Full Album)

Prior to last years release of 'Chicology' (a covers album), Tammy Harris released 'Love' on 28 June 2019.

Tracks worthy of mention are the title track 'Love' and 'Take Me Away' both good steppers, 'Illusions Of Love' a mellow neo soul love ballad, a cover of Phyllis Hyman's classic 'You Know How To Love Me', 'Never Stop' a cover of The Brand New Heavies acid jazz track and two mixes of 'Come Over' with the remix, for me, being the better of the two, but both are good, the remix is more of a dance track whilst the original mix is more of a stepper. 

All in all a pretty good album well worth investigating.  Too many good tracks to just feature one or two so listen to the whole album from the link below.

Listen to Full Album here

DACEY [2021] - Satin Playground [Self-Released] (Full Album)

This is a difficult one to categorise: neo soul, jazz, R&B, ambient with hints of Sade, but some nice beats on this 7 track album and it's certainly different.

DACEY are Dacey Andrada, Justin Tecson, Joshua Akow, Nathan Chan, Marco Marin from Vancouver, Canada and this looks like their debut album released 11 Jan 2021.

The track that caught most of my attention is 'GrOoVe WiTcHu'.

Listen to the Full Album here

GrOoVe WiTcHu

RoneyBoys [2021] - Start It Right [Self-Released]

Taken from a 5 track EP released 30 Dec 2020. The rest of the EP is run of the mill R&B, but I think the title track has potentional although it's sounds a bit like a throwback to the new jack swing era as does 'Opportunity'.

Laura Rain & The Caesars [2020] - If I Can't Have You [LRC]

A few days ago I posted the latest release from Laura Rain & The Caesars, however I've found another released only a month earlier on 27 Dec 2020.  I think the newer one pips it for me, but this isn't a bad effort.