Raquel Rodriguez [2021] - Sweet Side [Blue Dream] (Full Album)

This slipped out quietly last Friday (23 Apr 2021). The new album from the prolific Raquel Rodriguez who has released at least four singles already this year ('Undone', 'You', 'Don't You Know', 'Read The Room') which were bundled into an EP as each track was released. She's now come up with a fourteen track album (although three are interludes/intros so eleven tracks only) which features all four singles, plus three previous singles 'Nobody Else', 'Crybaby' from 2020 and 'Leave Me Behind' from 2019.   

That leaves four new tracks: 'Sweet Side' (a mellow stepper [1B/91]), 'I Know, I Know' (another mellow ballad/stepper [3B/88]), 'Daydream' (a more funky groove [10A/80]) and 'Last Night' (an uptempo dancer and probably the best of the four (apart from the use of that darned vocoder!) [10B/123]) I believe 'Last Night' is/will be the next single. To be blunt though, I think the best material has already been released as singles, but if you haven't already got them, then buy the album.

The album is being pressed on limited edition vinyl (400 copies) available from her website (link below) at $25.

She lives in L.A. and is of Mexican/American heritage and released her debut self-titled EP way back in 2011, followed by two albums ('The 310' in 2016 and 'The 301 Pt2' in 2018) and another five track EP with Stan Taylor 'Sunday's Best' of sweet soul covers in 2019, with various singles in between each album/EP. 'Sweet Side' is her first full length album as 'The 301' had only six tracks and 'The 301 Pt. 2' had five.

I did a feature on her last year which captured most of her best material up to that point.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital/LP
Label:	Blue Dream
Cat No:	None
Year:	23/04/2021
Value:	£9.99/$25

S.E.L [2021] - Loc'd In Consciousness [Self Released] (Full Album Samples)

A pleasant surprise greeted me this morning in my mailbox, the debut album from S.E.L (Soulful Emma-Louise Bucknor) 'Loc'd In Consciousness' which was released on CD on 9 Apr 2021 and will be available to download 14 May 2021.

The new single 'Melodic Harmony' from the album is already receiving airplay to a great reaction and was the highest new entry into the Starpoint UK Soul Chart at #10 this week even though it won't be officially released until 14 May 2021.

Soulful Emma-Lousie has been a vocal cornerstone for Jazzie B as part of the Soul II Soul movement. She has covered a lot of solo ground during the last few years including headlining the Summer Soulstice Festival in London and Margate’s Soul Weekender Festival to expanding her musical message on Talk Radio’s @BadassWomensHr and has co-hosted a regular monthly show with Deadly Smedly on Mi Soul.

She released her debut single 'Necessary' in 2010 but it was the release of 'Elevation' in 2016 when her career took off, followed by a cover of Des'ree's 'You Gotta Be' in 2017.

For the debut album she has worked mainly with Italian multi instrumentalist and producer Michele Chiavarini, US House producer DJ Spen and Thomas McKay of the Night Crawlers and Soul II Soul’s violinist, Gill Morley did the string arrangements. Emma’s song-writing prowess and lyrical arrangements shines bright. Co-writers and featured artists include Bryan Chambers, Tanya Lacey, Nathan Richards, Leon Nelson and Victory Paul-Emeralds. 

The album is a very easy listen with not a 'duffer' on the whole album. It includes five of her singles released since 2016 i.e. a new mix of Elevation, You Gotta Be, Flowered Trees, Sweetest Pain and Fallin' plus five new tracks including the new single Melodic Harmony, Girl, Brand New, Be Your Sun and My Point Of View.

It's a contemporary, distinctly UK soul, set with an old school feel so should have an across the board appeal. From the new sides, the outstanding ones are Melodic Harmony, Girl and Brand New, but as stated above there is not a 'filler' on the whole album.

Tracklist: (2 minute samples of each below)

Elevation (Michele Chiavarini 2021 mix)

A new 2021 mix of her 2016 single which reached #2 on UK Soul chart.

You Gotta Be

Cover of De'sree's 1994 top 20 pop hit which she released as a single in 2017 which topped the Traxsource House chart.

Melodic Harmony

The new single already at #10 on UK Soul chart

Girl

A touch of acid jazz, sounding like something the Brand New Heavies could have recorded.

Flowered Tears

Single from 2017 that reached #2 on UK Soul chart

Brand New

Contemporary and funky with spoken word at start

Falling

Acousic and melodic single from last year with Bryan Chambers.

Be Your Sun

Another new track which has an acid jazz vibe with uplifting layered grooves.

My Point Of View

Melodic and soulful ballad, the only downtempo track on the album.

Sweetest Pain 

2018 single and an excellent adaptation of Dexter Wansel's Philly classic which featured Jean Carn on vocals.

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S.E.L · S.E.L - Loc'd In Consciousness

Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	CD/Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/04/2021 / 16/05/2021
Value:	£TBA

Violet [2021] - As Of Now [Down 2 a Science] (Full EP)

I can't find any about this artist but the indications are that she is from Florida. She appears to have debuted in 2018 with a three track EP 'UltraViolet' in collaboration with a few other artists. 

Her new EP 'As Of Now', released 26 Apr 2021, consists of five  tracks. It has the same vibe as Hari, JGrrey, Tyson, Tree etc. with an ambient, dreamy sound with Sadesque vocals. Probably not one for the purist but I quite like the sound, more 'soulful' than soul I guess. 

I would have selected 'Atmosphere' as my favourite until, yes you guessed it, the 'obligatory' token rap from Marlo Smith kicks in at 1:36 right through to the end, so 'Mantras' gets the prize.

Details

Rating:	7.9
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Down 2 a Science
Cat No:	None
Year:	26/04/2021
Value:	£4.95

Soleille [2021] - Love Me? [Râgé Entertainment]

Soleille is from Silver Springs, MD and is also a member of a duo called No!re with MeMo who released a seven track self-titled EP earlier this year. She released a debut EP 'Tour Eiffel' in 2018. Her latest single 'Love Me?' was released 26 Apr 2021.

It's sort of difficult to pigeon-hole, it's 'edgy' and contemporary and not her usual rap/hip-hop stuff. It sounds soulful to my ears and I quite like it.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Râgé Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Year:	26/04/2021
Key:	3A
BPM:	89
Value:	£1

Michon Young [2021] - Happy [Self Released]

The new single from Michon Young (and follow up ot her cover of Gladys Knight & The Pips' 'You're Number 1 In My Book') 'Happy' is due for release on Friday (30 Apr 2021). It was featured on Franklin Sinclair's New Music Show last Friday. 

Most of her music has already been posted on the blog, just select her name from 'Search Labels', but most of it is here.

It comes from her forthcoming (and fourth) solo album 'Rose Colored Glasses' LLEv3 (Love, Life, Experiences vol 3) due in June 2021.

She released her debut album 'Possessing The Promise' in 2011 and her debut single 'Something About You' in Sep 2016.

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