The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Part 13 (May 2021 Wk 17) Spotify Playlist

My selection of the best releases this week (May 2021 Wk 17). 

This week's selection of top new releases (in no particular order except BPM). 

After a very slow start many good new tracks have suraced at the weekend.

Pt 12, Pt 11, Pt 10, Pt 9,Pt 8, Pt 7, Pt 6, Pt 5, Pt 4, Pt 3, Pt 2, Pt 1

NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full

The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 8 (May 2021 Wk 17)

My selection of this week's best cover versions, remixes, reissues, previously unreleased and new songs using samples (May 2021 Wk 17). (In no particular order)

There are actually 14 this week, one is 'tenuous' as I'm assumimg that Deja Vu Bella + DJ Twelvz uses, an as yet unidentified, sample from the 80s. 

DeRobert & The Half-Truths isn't a cover, remix, reissue or sample but is a retro sound so have included here rather than the main list.

A few of the reissues (on vinyl) aren't officially released yet but were announced/posted this week, and are available to pre-order, so have been included. 

Part 7, Part 6, Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 1

The Global Soul Chart - 1st May 2021

Seven new entries this week, six already posted previously and KHAMI (#15) posted today.

Losers:

The ones making way for the new entries are Roderick Harper, Terry (Harris), Mr Jazz & Soulmatik, Carmy Love, Conya Doss & B. Golden  Desmond Parson and Aron Feat. Doobie Powell

Highest Risers:

Reel People, Middle Name Band, Sunni Colon

Biggest Fallers:

Kindred The Family Soul, TanQueray Hayward, Joyce Wrice

NB The 'Essential 5' and The Breakers are listed in a separate post.

01 (04) (+03) Raheem DeVaughn & Apollo Brown - When A Man / Zaddy

02 (01) (-01) Zo! - Abstractions (Album)

03 (07) (+04) Sunni Colon - Provide

04 (12) (+08) Reel People - Hearts Collide (EP) Deja Vu, Vibe, Fly

05 (02) (-03) Bruce Gardner Experience - Dulcet (EP)

06 (06) (=) Arletis - On Time

07 (03) (-04) Joyce Wrice - Overgrown (Album)

08 (13) (+05) Middle Name Band - Weekend Love Chant / Love Bite

09 (NE) - Tree Feat. Swiss - Even If [BLK Entertainment] (posted14/04/2020)

10 (NE) - Deirdre Gaddis - Keep Pushin' (D-E-I-R-D-R-E Keep Pushin') (posted 18/04/02021)

11 (11)  (=) - Claire Renee - Wings (Album)

12 (05) (-07) Kindred The Family Soul - Auntie & Unc (Album)

13 (16) (-03) Daul Feat. THAMA - For Us (Mix 2) (Album Pipe Dreams)

14 (10) (-04) TanQueray Hayward - Definition Of A Woman (Album)

15 (NE) KHAMI - Get Away [BLVCK] (posted 02/05/2021)

16 (NE) Sondra Love - Blaze / Free / No Dope (LP No Smoking) (posted 18/04/2021)

17 (20) (+03) Joe Hertz - Colourblind (Baker Aaron Refix)

18 (NE ) Michon Young - Happy (posted 28/04/2021)

19 (NE) Jonas Winge Leisner - Wrapped In Your Love (EP Sticky) (posted 25/04/2021)

20 (NE) Davante Thornton Feat. JeMarcus Bridges - Games (LP Luh And Circumstance) (posted 22/04/2021)

The Global Soul Chart - 1st May 2021 - The Essential 5 & The Breakers

I thought I'd start a new feature highlighting the 'Essential 5' and The Breakers played by Franklin Sinclair on his Global Soul Chart Show which is aired between 5pm-7pm every Saturday on Global Soul Radio.

He plays the Essential 5 at the start of the show, whilst The Breakers are interspersed between chart entries. 

A podcast of the show is posted each week on Mixcloud. If you want to listen to the whole show then the podcast is posted on the latest 'The Global Soul Chart - 1st May 2021' post.

Links for tracks/albums already posted on the blog are on track or album title, for those not posted, links are on the label which will open the track in Spotify.

The Essential 5

Two of the five have all already been posted and two of the others (Shante & VNUS) were considered and dismissed as being too R&B oriented (and/or feature raps) for posting on this blog. I posted a live version of Shante singing Amy Winehouse's 'Valerie' on 4 Apr. Romero Mosley is quite good, although leaning towards R&B, so may post it later, it was released 15 Apr. 

Romero Mosley Feat. Iman Omari - Stay Together (Single) [JAMTOWN]

Ledisi - Nothing But You (LP 'Live At The Troubadour') [BMG] (posted 30/05/2021)

Shante Feat. LaRussell - Vibration (rap) (LP 'Protection') [GoodPenny]

VNUS Feat. Tank The Machine - Vulnerable (rap) (LP 'Voice Memos') [Self Released]

NB this has the same intro/backing as Kole Alyse - We Gon' Make It 

White Ascot Feat. Vuyo - All Over Me (Single / LP 'Pink Blood / False Memory') [White Noise Music] (posted 25/04/2021)

The Breakers

Nine breakers were played this week, five of them already posted. 

Hiatus Kaiyote is a blue-eyed Australian band who have an album called 'Mood Valiant' due out on 24 Jun. I posted their previous single 'Get Sun' at the end of March which I feel is much better, and more soulful. Red Room is an ambient 'floater'.

Blue Soul Ten is quite nice but is mainly a rap, Children Of Zeus are from Manchester and contains rap profantities and The Rebel is another that is predominatly rap with autotune and/or vocoder although the backing is pretty good, shame about the rest!

Amber Mark - Worth It (Single) [EMI] (posted 20/04/2021)

Kedron Brown - Be Ready (Caught Up) (Single) [Self Released] (posted 27/04/2021)

Hiatus Kaiyote - Red Room (Single/EP) [Brainfeeder]

Blue Soul Ten - Speakers (rap) (LP 'The Incredible Sound of Blue') [Greenhouse Music]

Children Of Zeus - No Love Song (rap) (Single) [First World]

SunQueen Kelcey Feat.Jerrod Azzad - New (LP 'See Attached') [Smart Mouth Records] (posted 23/04/2021)

Ivy Chanel - Make Me Wanna (Single) [Self Released] (posted15/04/20)

The Rebel - Cup Of Tea (You Should Show The Rest Of That Body) (Single?) [Streamworld]

King Sis - Done For Me (LP 'Ascension') [Epidemic Sound] (posted 01/05/21)

DomoMoon [2021] - Spiritual Love Journey [ShadowmoonLights] (Full Album)

DomoMoon is Dominique Durr from the west side of Chicago. She released five singles ('Too Good', 'Ring Ring', Chocolate Star', 'Predicting', 'I Got It') and a six track EP 'Many Moons Of Love' in 2020, most of which appear on this, her debut, album released 30 Apr 2021.

The album has fourteen tracks which are a mixture of neo soul, trap jazz and R&B. I don't propose to review all of them as you can listen and make your own mind up, but the standout tracks, on first listen for me, are 'Mary', 'Low Vibration', 'Almost' (which has an 80s feel), 'Freestyle' and 'Guitar', however, it is pretty consitent throughout and an excellent debut. An artist to watch!

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	ShadowmoonLights
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/04/2021
Value:	£9.99

Breonna B. [2021] - To The New Me [Self Released] (Full EP)

A new debut, self-released, six track EP/album from a new artist Breonna B. (who I can find absolutely nothing about) was released yesterday 1 May 2021.

It's a very good 'proper' neo soul album, except for the last track which is the 'token' trendy gesture to hip-hop, but all the other tracks are excellent.

She comes across like a blend of Angie Stone and Mary J. Blige.

'One My Way' - has that dreamy ambient intro and then the soulful vocals kick in.

'Situationship' - is a soulful ballad/stepper.

'Throwback Love' - is my favourite track, a superb soulful ballad/stepper.

'Packing Up My Yesterday' - continues the mellow ballad steppers.

'I Love Me More' Feat. Dime Diva - sounds like it has a 70s sample which I can't quite place - a Philly sweet soul tune, perhaps The Delfonics? ... unfortunately a rap enters at 1:40 for almost a minute using the 'N' word ... which will certainly limit its airplay!

'Another Cup (Revision)' Feat. KoJo Snowden & Rolo which, to me, I'm afraid is a mess, an almost ragga/hip-hop tune.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	01/05/2021
Value:	£5.94

KHAMI [2021] - Get Away [BLVCK]

KHAMI is a Trinbagonian (Tinidad & Tobago) / American singer/songwriter from Washington D.C. who debuted in Jan 2021 with a single with BabaBlvck 'Trust In Me'.

Her second single has entered this week's Global Soul Chart at #15.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	BLVCKl
Cat No:	None
Year:	18/04/2021
Key:	9B
BPM:	84
Value:	£1

Laura Roy [2021] - Water [AURA Music]

This has been out a few weeks, it was released 9 Apr 2021. It's one of those dreamy, ambient blue-eyed neo soul tunes that's quite pleasant. Not surprisingly she lives in London (it has 'that' sound) but she originates from Nova Scotia, Canada and has released around ten singles/EPs since 2016.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	AURA Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	09/04/2021
Key:	6A
BPM:	92
Value:	£1

Deja Vu Bella + DJ Twelvz [2021] - Love On You (Beyond The Storm EP) [Hungry Town Ent]

A new 5 track EP 'Beyond The Storm', from a duo previously unknown by me, released 30 Apr 2021. It looks like their first release together but DJ Twelvz has been around since at least 2008. 

Most of the EP is R&B/hip-hop but this track is an 80s throwback, which probably samples something that I don't recognise but sounds familiar - S.O.S. Band perhaps? (answers on a postcard as I'm sure someone will recognise it).

They are from Oakland, CA, and DJ Twelvz is Clemente Luis Pena and I believe that Deja Vu Bella is Deja Darlene Bellamy as these name are on the writing credits for all tracks.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Hungry Town Ent
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/04/2021
Key:	N/A
BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1

Diane Marsh [2021] - I'm Taken (I'm Spoken For) [Self Released]

The latest single from North West England blue-eyed singer Diane Marsh which is only available direct from her website.

I have to confess that I haven't particulary liked some of her recent material, but she nails it with this neo soul stepper which is one of the best new releases I've heard this week.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.75
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	N/A
BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1

Brian McKnight Jr. [2021] - Sprung [One9 Music]

The son of Brian McKnight put out two releases on 30 Apr 2021, the featured, and better, track and another with three mixes titled 'Only Yours', which is a tad too R&B oriented to post.

Also known as BKMJR he released an album with his brother Niko under the name BRKN RBTZ in 2012. He has released five solo albums and over twenty singles/EPs, but I must confess I don't recall listening to any of them until now!

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	One9 Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/04/2021
Key:	10A
BPM:	107
Value:	£1