Jack Tyson Charles [2021] - Dualism [Self Released] (Full EP)

The best of the bunch today (and this week) from London's Jack Tyson Charles (son of Craig Charles) with a release of a 4 track EP today (19 Feb 2021) which includes one of my picks of 2020 'Something' and his recent release 'Glory', with the addition of 'Love Is Pain' and 'Planets' which is designated as the new single.

I'm going to feature all the tracks as he's posted up live videos for all the tracks. Also, there is a new edit for 'Glory' and I haven't posted 'Love Is Pain' or 'Planets' before and 'Something' is just too good to omit!  I've also linked to two dance mixes of 'Glory' which are probably only of interest to clubbers!

Listen to Full EP here.

Planets (Video) [10B/85]

Glory (Edit) Live

Glory (Original Mix) (Video) [3A/107]

There are a couple of other earlier dance mixes for Glory from 2019: 'Luke Solomon Dub Mix' / [2B/123] and 'Bonar Bradberry On The Line Remix' / [4B/115]

Love Is Pain (Live) [10B/103]

Come on guys ... try and keep your eyes off the backing singers! For those of a certain age, it's a reminder of Robert Palmer videos in the 80s.

Someone pointed out to me that this is very similar (samples?) Taana Gardner's 1981 club hit "Heartbeat". It certainly uses the hookline.

Something (Video) [10B/95]

Details

Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Value:	£3.49

Malika Tirolien [2021] - Change Your Life [Ground Up]

A new single from a forthcoming album ('Higher' due 26 Feb 2021) from Malika Tirolien who sang with Snark Puppy on their grammy winning jazz/fusion album 'Family Dinner Volume 1' in 2013.

There are certainly jazz flavours in the new single which was officially released today.

She was born on the French Carribean island Guadeloupe but is now based in Montreal. This will be her sophomore solo album, the first 'Sur La Voie Ensoleillée' was released in 2014.

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Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Ground Up
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	7B
BPM:	92
Value:	£1

Ruff N Tumble [2021] - Love Spectrum [Beats N Brotherhood] (Full EP)

Following up their previous EP, released Aug 2020, is a new one from Ruff n Tumble called 'Love Spectrum' released 12 Feb 2021. Although it lists 5 tracks, 2 of the tracks have remixes included.

The best track, for me, is 'Love Don't Make It Easy (feat. Coco Ebitimibolo Oye)'

Listen to Full EP here.

Love Don't Make It Easy (feat. Coco Ebitimibolo Oye)

Details

Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Beats N Brotherhood
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	9A
BPM:	80
Value:	£1

Tyra LeVone [2021] - Wishing On A Star [Self Released]

Originally released in 1977, is this Gwen Dickey and Rose Royce's best song? Unbelievably, this didn't even get into the US Hot 100 falling just outside at 101 (and only reached #52 on US R&B) but reached #3 in UK! Similarly one of their other big hits in UK (#13) 'Is It Love You're After' only reached #105 in US.

Plenty of others have covered it in every decade from the 70s, including Jr. Waker, Will Downing, Teena Marie, Randy Crawford, Maysa, Paul Weller, Beyonce, Seal the list goes on.

Here's a brand new cover version from Tyra LeVone released 14 Feb 2021 giving it a, fairly faithful to the original, update. It features jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows and is the follow up to her previous single "Keep Steppin'" posted in Mar 2020 here.

Tyra is from Washington D.C. and debuted with a single 'If I Only Knew' in 2015 followed by her debut album 'Testimony A Soul Set Free' in 2017 (listen to Full Album here). 

On her website she lists a new album 'Chronicles Of Life' which includes' Wishing' and 'Steppin'' but there are no links for it so perhaps it's still a work in progress / forthcoming album.

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Here's some vintage footage of Rose Royce's original.

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	7A
BPM:	92
Value:	£1

Leroy Allen & Evette Busby [2020] - CMN Records Presents The Singers [CMN]

Leroy Allen & Evette Busby have released a new single which is a cover of Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway's 'The Closer I Get To You' on 29 Jan 2021. This is not available on YT as yet but you can hear it posted on Evette's facebook page. 

I did find an album they did togethether in Apr 2020 'CMN Records Presents The Singers'. I also posted a single from Evette Busby  in Nov 2020. It's not a duets album, it features tracks from each of them individually.

Their last single together was released in Nov 2020 'Dance To The Beat'. 

Apart from the three tracks I've posted below, other highlights are: 

Leroy Allen - Living On A Fixed Income (deep soul)

Evette Busby - Oh Wee (neo/modern soul)

Leroy Allen - Will It Be Him Or Me (neo modern soul

It's a pretty good album throughtout for those who appreciate more traditional soul music.

Listen to Full Album here

What Went Wrong (Evette Busby) [7B/68]

Superb deep soul ballad.

You're The Best (Leroy Allen) [8B/107]

A neo / modern southern soul dancer

I Got To Have You (Leroy Allen) [8B/98]

A neo southern soul stepper. 

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"/12"/LP
Label:	Label
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Value:	£1

Durand Jones & The Indications Feat. Y La Bamba [2021] - Cruisin' To The Parque [Dead Oceans]

Originally released in 2019 on the flip side to 'Morning In America' but hasn't featured on any of their 3 albums. A new version has just been released 17 Feb 2021 featuring Y La Bamba on vocals. It looks like it's digital only at present.

Durand Jones & The Indications [2019] - Cruisin' To The Park [Colemin #CLMN-178]

The original version only released as flip side to 'Morning In America' in 2019.

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dead Oceans
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	10B
BPM:	73
Value:	£1

Tiffany Trueblood [2021] - Manly Man [Self Released]

Tiffany Trueblood (aka Red Tail Songbird her indigenous Native American name given to her by a Cherokee Ketowah Chief named Chief Windwalker) is an artist from North Carolina.

Tiffany also works as a holistic practitioner (a Certified Herbalist and a Reiki Master). She released her debut single 'Wake Up' (featuring H20 Ave.) on 20 Oct 2020 (listen here) and has just released her debut album 'Awakening' on 12 Feb 2021. 

She has uploaded only one (and best) track from the album in a 'rough cut' below.

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	11A
BPM:	82
Value:	£1/£6.49

Lunar RAE [2021] - Lucid [1140] (Full Album)

From an album 'Lucid' released 12 Feb 2021, which is similar in feel to We Want You To Dance's album just posted.  It's impossible to pigeon hole as it's a nybrid of soul, R&B, hip-hop, jazz.  It may sound a bit messy to 'traditionalists' as the beats seem to be erratic which gives it a jazz vibe.  

I like it as it's pushing the boundaries not simply formulaic R&B like the path so many artists choose to take.  If new artists didn't push the boundaries then music would stagnate, so respect to them.

I've just found her website and she's an indie artist. Her name Luner RAE (R•A•E) stands for Reaching Authentic Essence, which would sum up the album.

Her real name is amber Baker, previously known as AbstractAmb, who was a drummer for Psych Rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra. She now plays with Sir Woman from Austin, TX and has previously released a 7 track EP 'Reaching' in 2018 and a single 'Other Side' on 31 Dec 2020 which is included on the album and posted below.

If I were to attempt to draw comparisons with her music I would suggest that she reminds me of a blend between Erykah Badu and Jill Scott.

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Listen to FullAlbum here

Where Are You

Here's a live clip of her and her band performing 'Where Are You' from 'Reaching' 2018. (Luther RAE is the singer/drummer).

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	1140
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	8A/9A
BPM:	89
Value:	£1

Shawn Sounds [2021] - Sunshine [J. Nell]

Another release on 14 Feb 2021 which also looks like another debut. It may be a bit too R&Bish for some tastes but is a pleasant enough neo soul ballad/stepper.

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	J. Nell
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	11B
BPM:	90
Value:	£1

Jon Batiste [2021] - Cry [Verve]

First single taken from a forthcoming album due 19 Mar 2021 by Jon Batiste. A blend of neo soul, blues, southern soul and even a rock(ish) guitar in there. 

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Verve
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	8A
BPM:	80
Value:	£1

Worrell [2021] - Ready For Love [LNF]

A new single from Worrell relased 14 Feb 2021. I'm guessing this is a debut as i can find no info on him or any other releases under the name. 

It's a good neo soul ballad/stepper with strong soulful vocals which has an 80s/90s feel about it.

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	LNF
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	4A
BPM:	80
Value:	£1

Sed Marsh [2021] - Colors [MarshMelodies Inc]

I've just received a message from Sed Marsh informing me that he will be releasing an EP in May, so watch out for that one. To remind you of what he sounds like check out his latest single released at the end of Jan 2021 previously posted here. As I stated then, it's a nice, smooth and mellow neo soul ballad/stepper. He's got a really nice tone to his voice.