Akori [2021] - Siesta [mañanamusic] (Full EP)

Akori from Raleigh, NC, debuted in 2019 with a five track EP "AM Therapy" (I've included a video of the best track "Way Back When" below). She released another five track EP "Siesta" on 21 May 2021. It features her only other release, a single from 15 Feb 2020.

All tracks are ethereal Neo soul/R&B with breathy vocals and dreamy instrumentation.

NB "Is It Hot In Here?" samples a track by J!immy "Love You" released in 2019 which almost certainly samples a 60s/70s sweet soul tune - I think it's the intro to The Ambassadors "! Really Love You" from 1969 on Arctic. 

The same sample has also been used by M.I:C on "Drunk" (2019) and Biz Levin on "Bubblin'" (2021). I wonder if Jimmy Bishop or Kenny Gamble (the composers) know? (kerching kerching).

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	mañanamusic
Cat No:	None
Year:	21/05/2021
Value:	£2.95

Veon Ray [2021] - The Veon Ray Project [Self Released] (Full Album)

Veon Ray appears to be a new artist from New York who released his (debut?) album "The Veon Ray Project" on 11 Jun 2021 and has released four singles this year ("Come With Me" (I posted two versions of this track back in Feb), "You", "Time" and "Everything"), all of which are also on the album. I would guess his real name is Ray Vencier as all of the tracks have writing credits with that name.

It's a classic soul album with a contemporary twist and is pretty solid throughout, with eighteen tracks (3 interludes/reprises). The standout tracks include "Time", "Come With Me", "Truly", "Inside You" and "You" (and there's probably others, but with 18 tracks it takes time to sift through them to find the nuggets).

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Classic Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	11/06/2021
Value:	£7.99

Ben Broomfield [2021] - Like We Were 17 [Self Released]

Ben Broomfield is the eldest of the talented Broomfield family (Aaron, Al, Ben, Ronald (aka Eugene Wilde), Vince & Diane (aka Dee Dee Wilde)) from Miami who recorded in the 70s as Broomfield Corporate Jam and in the 80s as La Voyage. Ronald (Eugene Wilde), Diane (Dee Dee Wilde) and Vince (Audio) all also had solo careers.

Ben was recently a victim of Covid and spent several weeks in a coma but has thankfully recovered and is celebrating with a new single which is his first recording for 35 years and was written by brother Vince (Audio) who has also released new material over the last few years. Not surprisingly, it has an 80s feel.

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Details

Rating:	7.7
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	08/06/2021
Key/BPM:	7B/105
Value:	£1

Diana Ross [2021] - Thank You [Decca]

Diana Ross, now 77, releases her first new material for 15 years. The title track from a  forthcoming album (due on 10 Sep, comprising of 13 tracks of new material) was released yesterday (17 Jun 2021).

I detect elements of the Ashford & Simpson written song "You're All I Need To Get By" recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1968.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Pop Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Decca
Cat No:	None
Year:	17/06/2021
Key/BPM:	4B/99
Value:	£1

Kate Grealy [2021] - No Rewind [Self Released]

I think this is probably one of the better tracks I've heard in the last few days in an otherwise slow week for quality tunes.  It was released 4 Jun 2021 from a blue-eyed artist I've not come across before, who describes herself as an old school R&B singer from Melbourne. She has six releases available since 2019, but has some earlier material on BandCamp.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	04/06/2021
Key/BPM:	8A/79
Value:	£1