Friday, 5 March 2021

Deborah Bond [2021] - compass: I [Splash Blue] (Full Album)


Deborah Bond's new album 'compass: I' dropped today (5 Mar 2021). I believe that this will be her third solo album to date, having released her debut 'DayAfter' in 2003 and 'Madame Palindrome' in 2011. 

She has been performing with Incognito for several years and had a solo hit earlier this year with 'Radio' which is included on the album.  The other standout track is 'stride', but the album is pretty good throughout.


Listen to Full Album here.

Radio


Stride


Details
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Splash Blue
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 1B / 3A
BPM: 98 / 85
Value: £8.91

Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) [2021] - Leave The Door Open [Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic]


Hot off the press - released today (5 Mar 2021) and what a tune! This is Silk Sonic which is a collaboration between Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak who will be releasing a full album later in the year as Silk Sonic which will also feature Bootsy Collins.

Forget the  musical snobbery, this is one of the best sounds I've heard this year!  This has got an authentic 70s throwback feel, and when Bruno Mars kicks in with that lush chorus with his silky smooth and soulful vocals it is pure bliss.  This is the real deal!

I love it and am not ashamed to admit it. I just wish there were loads more new releases like this. This is soulful and has got 'HIT' written all over it (if there is any justice) as it is simply head and shoulders above anything I have heard this year so far.

The 'purists' may simply dismiss it and ignore it because of who it's by, yet if it were by some unknown or independent artist their jaws would be dropping and they'd be drooling over it!

UPDATE: Just looked at video again and after 24hrs it's had more that 8.5m views!


Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 7B
BPM: 74
Value: £1

Jasper Street Co. [2021] - You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration (Dr Packer Short Edit) [Nervous]


This was originally a Gamble & Huff ballad recorded by Teddy Pendergrass in 1981 on 'It's Time For Love' album and released as a single which reached #43 Hot 100 / #4 R&B.

It looks like they've taken the vocal and overdubbed it with various 'beats' retaining the key (8B/D Major) but doubling the BPM (Teddy P. is 68 BPM).

There a four different DJs/producers Tenshake, Dr Packer, Teddy Douglas (Bass Intro), Mic Freak & DJ Spens (Higher Love), which have been doubled up by also providing instrumentals of each.  On top of that there are longer versions of them all on Traxsource, resulting in sixteen different mixes, hedging bets or milking it?  You decide.

The mix I've plumped for is Dr Packer Short mix.


Details
Format: Single/Mixes
Media: Digital
Label: Nervous
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 10B
BPM: 123
Value: £1/£7.92

Josh Milan [2018] - The Bottle [Honeycomb]


'Synchonicity' strikes once again as no sooner had I found the last track posted 'Because of Gil' and I 'stumbled' across this track from a 2018 album (6.9.69) from Josh Milan which has a cover of 'The Bottle' on it.  I was actually looking for a remix of 'It's Love' by him, the 'Ricanstruction Vocal Mix'.

Anyway, here's a neo jazz version of Gil Scott-Heron's (and not forgetting Brian Jackson who's name always gets omitted) 'The Bottle'.


Details
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Honeycomb Music
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 3B
BPM: 116
Value: £1/£7.99

Josh Milan [2021] - It's Love (Frankie Feliciano Remixes) [Honeycomb Music]


Soulful house remixes of Josh Milan's 'It's Love' from his 2018 album '6.9.69'. My preferred mix is the Frank Feliciano Classic Vocal Mix. There are six different mixes, click image below to view/sample.

Listen to all the mixes here.

Frank Feliciano Classic Vocal Mix


Details
Format: Mixes
Media: Digital
Label: Honeycomb Music
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 12A
BPM: 121
Value: £1/£5.94

Rasmus Faber Feat. Dyanna Fearon [2021] - All Of My Dreams [Big Love]


Another that comes with four different mixes but I've gone with the 'basic' mix as the two 80s mixes are definately not for me, the other mix is just an extended mix.

Released on 12 Feb 2021. It's basically a dance track, what more can I say.

Rasmus Faber is a Swedish DJ/Remixer

Dyanna Fearon is the niece of Galaxy's Phil Fearon who had a few hits in the 80s.


Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Big Love
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 4A
BPM: 114
Value: £1

Brutha Basil, Reelsoul, Kelvin Sylvester [2021] - Because Of Gil (B.O.G. Tribute) [Brukel Music]


Brutha Basil, ReelsoulKevin Sylvester do a mashup of Gil Scott-Heron classics in this jazzy soulful house tune.

Only available via Traxsource.

The best (most soulful) mix is 'Kelvin Sylvester Brukel Soul Funk Vocal Mix'.


Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Brukel Music
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 8A
BPM: 118
Value: £1

Junior Jack & Glory Feat. Jocelyn Brown [2021] - Hold Me Up (JJ's Vocal Mix) [Defected]


Released on 19 Feb 2021 with four mixes but this (and JJ's Extended Vocal Mix) is the only remotely soulful mix featuring the vocal talents of Jocelyn Brown.

Junior Jack (aka Vito Lucente) is an Italian house DJ/Producer now based in Belgium.

This track was originally released in 2003 as Glory with Frank De Gryse (aka Frank Degrees) & Jocelyn Brown.


Details
Format: Single/Mixes
Media: Digital
Label: Defected
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 8B
BPM: 128
Value: £1/£2.49

Sy Sez & His Bitter Truth [2021] - Raise You Up [Raising]


Due for release on 12 Mar 2021 from Sy Sez & His Bitter Truth. Sy Sez is a  UK DJ/Producer and presenter on Mi-Soul from West London.






Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Raising
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 6A
BPM: 123
Value: £1

IQ Musique [2021] - Love Is Here (MR KG Remix) [Blu Lace]


Due out 6 Mar 2021 is a 5 track remix EP from IQ Musique which features five remixed tracks. The one featured here is MR KG Remix of 'Love Is Here' from the 2017 album 'Nothing But The Truth'.



Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Blu Lace
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 6A
BPM: 123
Value: £1

The Fantastics! Feat. Sulene Fleming [2021] - Hey Mister! (Art of Tones Remix) [BBE]


How would I describe this? Neo sistah funk?  Released 26 Feb 2021.

It features British singer Suleme Fleming from Bradford who was lead singer for the Brand New Heavies between 2016-18.  

I'm not sure whether I prefer the remix or the original.

Listen to all four mixes here.


Details
Format: Single/Mixes
Media: Digital
Label: BBE
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 3A
BPM: 122
Value: £1

Julius Jordan Feat. Tree [2021] - Higher [Mirror Ball]


Released 22 Jan 2021 with four mixes, Radio, Extended, Dub and Instrumentral.

Tree released a couple of tracks herself just before this.

Listen to all four mixes here.


Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Mirror Ball
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 3B
BPM: 123
Value: £1/£3.96