Soul Strutter: 06/28/23

Wednesday, 28 June 2023

Acantha Lang [2023] - Beautiful Dreams [Magnolia Blue Records] (+ Album Promo)

Acantha Lang's debut album "Beautiful Dreams" is released this Friday (30 Jun '23) and will be available digitally, on CD and vinyl. You can pre-order now via Bandcamp.

Not surprisingly amongst its 13 tracks, it includes all of her 8 singles along with the title track of her "Sugar Woman" EP. Therefore, the album contains all of her previously released material excluding a track from "Sugar Woman" EP (a cover of the Film Night theme Billy Taylor Trio's "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" later sung by Nina Simone in 1967 on "Silk & Soul").

We posted a teaser at the beginning of May which included music videos for all but three of the tracks ("Come Back Home" (which has subsequently been released as a single), the title track "Beautiful Dreams" and "A Word From My Momma - Interlude"). In addition she has produced live videos for two other songs ("Eventually" and "Keep On") so the only song that has not been heard yet, unless you have attended one of her live gigs where she has performed it (as in this one), is the title track.

We have been sent a sneak preview which we can share with you below, along with all other tracks from the album except the interlude.

Ms Lang, originally from New Orleans arriving in London via New York, has covered over 100 songs on her YouTube channel under the banner "Standing On The Shoulders Of ... ", which has received over 10m views, and is regularly performing live gigs.

We've followed Acantha's career since her second single "Lois Lang" in Jan '21 and last month she made her debut appearance on live US TV on CBS Saturday Morning performing three songs from the album ("He Said / She Said ", "It's Gonna Be Alright" and "Sugar Woman").

Album Track Listing

(Each single is suffixed in the order it was released).

01 - Sugar Woman (4 EP)

02 - Come Back Home (9)

03 - Beautiful Dreams

04 - Eventually

05 - He Said / She Said (1)

06 - A Word From My Momma - Interlude

07 - Lois Lang (2)

08 - River Keep Runnin' (5)

09 - It's Gonna Be Alright (6)

10 - Carry The Weight (7)

11 - Whatever Happened To Our Love? (3)

12 - Keep On

13 - Ride This Train (Extended Version) (8)

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03 - Beautiful Dreams

04 - Eventually

12 - Keep On

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Southern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Magnolia Blue Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/06/2023
Price:	£7.99 / £10 / £20

Jalen Ngonda [2023] - Come Around and Love Me [Daptone Records] PROMO

Yet another superb single from Jalen Ngondo is scheduled for release tomorrow (29 Jul) by Daptone. The new single, "Come Around and Love Me", may even be his best to date. If this comes out on vinyl, which it surely will like his previous singles, it will sell like proverbial 'hot cakes' to the UK rare soul scene in particular.

Jalen Ngonda grew up on the outskirts of Washington D.C. (Wheaton, MD) and began musical studies in grade school, where he dabbled in violin, ultimately moving on to the guitar and piano. He is from a musical family and gained inspiration from listening to his father’s collection of Motown albums.

He, like so many before him, cut his teeth in the church where he played organ which helped him raise funds to send him to the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts in 2014, He currently resides in London.

He was spotted by Daptone co-founder Neal Sugarman whilst performing a chance, last minute, slot for Jools Holland and he was duly signed and an album was planned but unfortunately it occurred the month before Covid-19 lock down.

The latest single is the title track of a forthcoming album (no date for release has been officially given but we noted it as 9 Aug in a previous post (correction 9 Sep as US day and month are transposed i.e. 09/08 v UK 08/09)) which includes his last three singles (links below).

Album Track Listing:

01 - Come Around And Love Me

02 - If You Don't Want My Love

03 - Lost

04 - That's All I Wanted From You

05 - Please Show Me

06 - Just Like You Used To

07 - What A Difference She Made

08 - Give Me Another Day

09 - So Glad I Found You

10 - It Takes A Fool

11 - Rapture

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Daptone Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/06/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Mike Lindup [2023] - Changes 2 [Knapdale Records] (Album Promo)

Level 42 co-founder Mike Lindup has a new album lined up for release next month (28 Jul '23). "Changes 2" follows his 1990 debut solo album "Changes". In between he has released "Conversations With Silence" (2003) and "On The One" (2011).

The new album's twelve tracks includes three songs he's previously released as singles "Atlantia" (Jul '22 which also received a Dave Lee Remix), "You Can't Live As An Island" (Nov '21) and "Time To Let Go" (Jun '21 which also received a set of remixes by Louie Vega).

Lindup formed Level 42 with Mark King and the Gould brothers (Phil and Rowland (aka Boon)) in 1980 and played keyboards, percussion and sang vocals. The group had major success in the 80s but disbanded in 1994 reforming in 2001 with Lindup re-joining in 2006 having been a member of UK/Brazilian band Da Lata from 2000.

"Changes 2" navigates through upfront soul, deep funk, jazz riffs and disco vibes and features guest artists such as vocalists Tony Momrelle and Omar, and dance remixes from Dave Lee and Louis Vega and even an appearance from the UK comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw! Produced by Reel People's Mike Patton and Toni Economides the album features the thumb slapping bass of Level 42's Mark King as well as a host of well known UK musicians.

Mike tells us about the album: "Changes – so many since I began recording this album, and as the saying goes, the one thing you can be sure of in this life. During the four years of making this album I’ve been reflecting on the world as I see it, the actors and actions on this grand stage of life, love, death, prejudice, politics, separation, longing, hopes and dreams. Musically, many of the seeds of these songs took hold a while ago and wouldn’t let go, but to be fulfilled they needed input and inspiration from my producers Toni and Mike, and the talents of the singers and musicians that are featured within. My wish is that some of these themes will resonate with you."

Out on 28 Jul but we'll post the three singles (along with a couple of remixes) and a sneak preview of another of the album's tracks, "I Saw You In My Dreams" feat. Omar.

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"I Saw You In My Dreams" feat. Omar.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album Promo
Media:	Digital
Label:	Knapdale Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Price:	£TBC

Jaegerossa [2023] - Disputed [Midnight Riot!]

Theoretically released on Friday (23 Jun), but we can only find it currently available on Bandcamp, is a reworking of Undisputed Truth's "You + Me = Love" from 1976. It was their only chart entry into the UK pop chart peaking at #43 in Jan 1977 (it reached #37 R&B and #48 Hot 100). The lead singer at this time was Yvonne Stevens aka Taka Boom who is the younger sister of Chaka Khan (Yvette Stevens).

This rework, titled "Disputed" derived from the group name, has been done by Jaegerossa aka Phil Rose and Chris Hunter from Chorley / Preston.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Disco / Rework
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Midnight Riot!
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/06/2023 (09/06/2023 Bandcamp)
Key/BPM:	4A/124
Price:	£2