Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Band Of Pockets [2021] - Give Me Some Attention [Self Released] (Full EP)


Band Of Pockets are a collaborative collective of global musicians founded in 2020 by J.O. (Johan) Nillson (guitarist/composer) from Sweden and Yona Marie (singer/composer) from Washington D.C. 

They released their first EP "Trust This Feeling" in Jan 2021, Barely two weeks after their single "Wish You Could Be Someone Else" (16 Oct), they have released a four track EP "Give Me Some Attention" today (2 Nov 2021) which does not include the single.

I'm not quite sure how to categories it as each track is different from the disco / funk title track (which is the standout track), the funky "(Dance) I Wanna Do It" and then we get a ballad "We Can't Stop The Rain" followed by the more poppy "Whatever You Want". For want of giving it a category I've just called it Nu Disco based on the first two tracks.

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Details
Rating: 7.9
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Nu Disco
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 02/11/2021
Value: £3.96

Darelle Holden [2021] - Darelle Holden [Self Released] (Full EP)


After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Seattle-born Darelle Holden launched her career as a solo artist and a sought-after backup vocalist performing with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Bobby Caldwell, Norman Brown, and Tom Jones.

She is from a musical family as her grandfather, Oscar Holden, was known as the Patriarch of Jazz in Seattle

Her debut release was a five track EP "Can You Hear Me" on 13 Jul 2021. She quickly followed it up with another self-titled, five track EP on 23 July 2021, from which the lead single is "Send Me An Angel".

This is an excellent EP, all tracks are very well produced and if I were pushed to choose the standouts they would be "Send Me An Angel" and the smouldering, sultry and jazzy "Baby".

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Details
Rating: 8.6
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Soul Jazz
Format: EP
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 23/07/2021
Value: £4.95

Nigel Lowis [2021] - An Interview with Gary Van Den Bussche on Starpoint Radio 2nd Nov 2021 He


Gary Van Den Bussche's interview guest today was phenomenal UK producer Nigel Lowis. I found it a fascinating interview as Nigel revealed some of the giants of soul music he was worked with over his thirty plus years in the business.

In addition to the interview I've randomly selected a playlist of fifteen of his remixes.

Nigel (born 6th Feb 1959) is a songwriter, producer, remixer from Kent, England who has sold over 16m records. He started in the late 80s in a group called Gun House. He produced his first hit in 1990 with Maureen Walsh (who was previously with Bomb The Bass) on a production of Sister Sledge's "Thinking Of You". 

He co-wrote and produced the Brit award winning album with Dina Carroll, "So Close" and then "Only Human", reaching #2 in the UK album charts.

He then went on to produce a cover of Glen Jones, "Stay" with UK girl band Eternal, which became their first top 10 hit in the UK and US and then produced their #1 hit with "Wanna To Be The Only One", a duet with Bebe Winans.


Other work has included producing the Carole King "Tapestry revisited" album, executive music producer on the BBC Show "The Fame Academy" also producing the #1 hit "Stop Living the Lie" for David Sneddon and the #1 "Fame Academy" album. He co-wrote "The Tracy Beaker theme" for the BBC series Tracy Beaker, which has since been sampled by Stormzy for his new album.

He has played a big part in the dance/house music scene since his career began and continues to arrange and produce with house royalty, David Morales (Kings of House) and together AKA as Disco Juice. The albums are due for release in late 2021.

In the world of Soul and Disco, Lowis has recently produced two backing tracks and wrote one of the songs for the new Spinners album "'Round The Block And Back Again" with Preston Glass and with 20 UK number 1 Remixes to his name.

Over his 30 years plus career he has worked with some incredible people including, Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones, Patti Austin, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, Michael Ball, Bebe Winans, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Carole King, Gene Page, George Benson, The O'Jays, Tom Moulton David Morales, with ABC and BBC TV networks to name but a few.

In 2021 Nigel will be working on several international projects including Trilogy 2020 (Electric Lady) (a multimedia rock project), co-writing a 6 part TV drama series and soundtrack, and remaking the Dina Carroll 30th anniversary box set for 2022 release.

Some tracks he has in the the pipeline include music from Trammps, Candi Staton, Ty Juan, Regi Myrix, Pauline Henry (The Chimes), Delegation, Brotherly Love "Soul City Connection" (which is a  Glitterbox PIR Tribute).


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Omar Wilson [2021] - Close The Door [BSE Recordings]


Back in April Omar Wilson released a cover on Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" and on Friday (29 Oct 2021) of Teddy Pendergrass' "Close The Door". The sleeve design is identical so could there be a whole album of covers in the pipeline?

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Details
Rating: 8.4
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Classic Soul / Cover Version
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: BSE Recordings
Cat No: None
Date: 29/10/2021
Key/BPM: 5B/87
Value: £1

Rachael Marks [2021] - Need You / Free [Self Released]


Rachel Marks is a new artist from Jamaica who debuted in July 2021 with "Free" (a bouncy dance tune) and has followed that single up on Friday (29 Oct 2021) with "Need You". I've included videos for both on this post.

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Details
Rating: 8.2
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 29/10/2021 : 18/06/2021
Key/BPM: 1B/84 : 7A/120
Value: £1