Saturday, 21 August 2021

Teddy Grossman [2021] - Power in Pain [Abraço & Co]


Some blue-eyed retro soul from Teddy Grossman who grew up outside Philly and now lives in L.A. "Power in Pain" is his third release (20 Aug 2021) after debuting last year.

It sounds like it could have come right out of Muscle Shoals, although his voice does veer towards Van Morrison in places, which may be a good or bad thing depending on your standpoint!

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Details
Rating: 7.7
Genre/Style: Retro Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Abraço & Co
Cat No: None
Date: 20/08/2021
Key/BPM: 12B/71
Value: £1

Carmichael Musiclover [2021] - Slow Motion [One Mic Music]


Consistent, Atlanta based, indie artist Carmichael Musiclover releases his new album "Slow Motion" on Wednesday (25 Aug 2021). It is currently available on his website ($15), where I suspect it will remain for some time before being more widely available as that is his usual process.

UPDATE: Album now available on DSP's and full album posted here.

I'm not able to provide any sound files but you can listen to samples of each of the seventeen tracks on his website. There is a mix of ballads and more up-tempo numbers. "Know You Better", "Body To Body" and "Live Like We Dance" are up-tempo winners and there are plenty of mellow and soulful tunes including "Time For The Sunshine", "My Last Breath" and "Happy". The album seems to be quite gospel influenced this time with tracks such as "God's Greatest Creation", "Rebuild", "Hand In Mine". This new album is another surefire winner.

He appeared at London's Jazz Cafe on Wednesday (18 Aug 2021) (sporting a 60s look) and has posted a video of his performance of "Pure Sweetness" from his superb album "The Best Thing Yet" released last year (my album of the year), so in lieu of his latest album being available I'll post the video and re-post the full album.

Whilst "The Best Thing Yet" would be hard to better, from the 30 second samples available, I think this must come close, or even better. Highly recommended and, whilst ordering the latest album, why not treat your self to some of his others, you won't be disappointed.

I also found a video of him performing "Count The Stars" from "Happy Place" (his 2018 album before TBTY) in 2019 on  Chicago's abc7  prior to a live gig in Chicago that evening.

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Details
Rating: 9
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 25/08/2021
Value: $15

Amber-Simone [2021] - Black, No Sugar [Juicebox Recordings]


Amber-Simone grew up in East London and cites her influences as diverse as Sade, The Police and Michael Jackson, so her latest single "Black, No Sugar" (released 18 Aug 2021), which is a very jazz influenced / neo soul tune, is a bit of a surprise.

Her surname is (or was), presumably, McNeill as her father is Drum 'n' Bass & Jungle DJ/producer Randall McNeill whose brother, Mark, played professional football for Orient and Aldershot in the 80s before moving to play in Sweden.

In 2015, aged 18, and unsigned, she was invited by John Legend to support him on his UK arena tour appearing in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds in Jun/Jul.

Her debut single, "Taught Me Better", came in 2017 on Adam Callan and Becky Tong's Juicebox Recordings where she has since released eight singles and a four track EP 'For Those Moments" in 2019.

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Details
Rating: 8
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Juicebox Recordings
Cat No: None
Date: 18/08/2021
Key/BPM: 10A/67
Value: £1

Jay Diggs [2021] - Something Bout The Night [Self Released]


Jay Diggs from Washington D.C. released "Something Bout The Night" yesterday (20 Aug 2021) which has an 80's feel.

His last release was a 'disco version' of the Pokemon theme ... I'll say no more ... except why?

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Details
Rating: 7.4
Genre/Style: Retro Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 20/08/2021
Key/BPM: 8B/114
Value: £1

Magdalena Bay [2021] - Secrets (Your Fire) [Luminelle Recordings]


Nothing 'really' to do with soul music (not in my book at least), but a bit of a novelty dance tune which is quite infectious. 

To be fair, Magdalena Bay (a male/female duo (Matthew Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum) from Los Angeles) describe their music as synth pop and everything (i.e. their website an videos) has a kitsch 80s/90s look and feel. 

Their latest single, "Secrets (Your Fire)", (released 11 Aug 2021) is from a forthcoming debut album "Mercurial World", not that I expect you're likely to rush off and pre-save it!

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Details
Rating: 7.4
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Luminelle
Cat No: None
Date: 11/08/2021
Key/BPM: 3A/108
Value: £1