Soul Strutter: 07/28/23

Friday, 28 July 2023

Sunstone [2023] - 9ine [Self Released] (Full Album)

Sunstone are a collective led by UK producer George Wong and includes singer/songwriter K.O. and producer JR Long II from Dayton, OH.

They are quite prolific, releasing three albums in both 2021 and 2022 and another four between 2017 and 2020. We posted all three last year "Virtual Superstar". (Jan '22), "Ultima" and "Cosmic Sapiens".in Mar '22.

Their first release since then is "9ine", which you may expect is their ninth album, but is in fact their eleventh on some sites and thirteenth on others but some are probably EPs. I'm sure the artist knows how many are albums versus EPs, so let's go with nine. With only seven tracks, this one is borderline album/EP in our view, as we think six is an EP and eight is an album, so no wonder there is confusion!

Having posted all their albums from 2022, as you might guess, we like the sounds they make.

Once again on the latest album, Wong is joined by two time Grammy nominated songwriter/vocalist K.O. (Kristal Oliver a.k.a. Tytewriter) from Philadelphia who has worked with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Enrique Iglesias, Ty Dolla $ign amongst many others.

As always, the latest album contains some gems and is a solid set throughout. It's contemporary but will have across the board appeal to traditionalist and futurists alike.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/07/2023
Price:	£6.93

Sound Of Superbad feat. Joyce San Mateo [2023] - Into You [Self Released]

Another 'nudge' for the new single from Sound Of Superbad, "Into You", feat. Joyce San Mateo which dropped on Bandcamp on 17 Jul. This one hardly needs reminding of as it is already making inroads onto several charts but is now available on all the normal digital outlets today (28 Jul).

This is their first single since "Loving You (Ubiquity Mix)" from Oct '22 which was a remix of a song from the EP "You're The Best Thing", released in Aug '22.

Once again it features Netherlands based singer Joyce San Mateo on a mellow groove with a bit of an 80s S.O.S. Band style vibe (think "Just Be Good To Me") going down.

The Sound of Superbad are Andy Welland and Sarah Perrett (aka Sassy P). Joyce San Mateo is a singer, originally from the Philippines who has been living in the Netherlands for a long time, who takes lead vocals. She's co-written songs on the albums of the legendary jazz funk trumpeter Tom Browne's "Legacy" (2016), and "Come What May" (2020) and also on the latest album of Shakatak bassist, George Anderson's 2021 album "Songs from Tomorrow".

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/07/2023 / 28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	12B/92
Price:	£1

Aston Grey Project feat. Keisha Adams [2023] - Wanna Be Yours [Platinum Vybe Recordings]

A reminder of that a promo we posted last week by smooth jazz ensemble Aston Grey Project, is officially released today. They are renowned for their fusion of smooth jazz, R&B, and contemporary vibes, return with their latest single, "Wanna Be Yours".

It showcases the band's signature seductive and melodic groove blending Aston Grey Project's instrumental style while introducing the world to the soulful vocals of Keisha Adams. It has hints of Rose Royce's "Ooh Boy" (1977).

We discovered that Keisha has recorded the song previously as it was included on a compilation "The Platinum Vybe Years 1995-2000 (The Lost Masters)" in 2016.

The man behind The Ashton Grey Project is Soul Cafe Radio's Chris Clay who is also the president of Platinum Vybe Recordings and a member of the group.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Platinum Vybe Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	10A/94
Price:	£1

Band Of Pockets [2023] Better Day/Feel Me [Self Released]

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 aka Rachel Marie) from Washington D.C.

They released their first EP "Trust This Feeling" in Jan 2021 and have now released three EPs, a full album and around ten singles.

We have featured their second EP "Give Me Some Attention" (Nov '21), their debut album "Moving On Again" (Feb '23) as well as the single "Thankful For What I've Found" (Feb '22) which didn't feature on either.

Their latest offering is a double single "Better Day" / "Feel Me" which is their first release since their debut album in Feb. Both feature Yona Marie on vocals with "Feel Me" edging it, of the two, for us.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/07/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/88 / 4A/93
Price:	£1.98

DMB [2023] - Remind Me [ESOP]

We're not sure who DMB (it translates to Do More Bass) is but is presumably a DJ/producer and more than likely UK based. He/she/they released a remix of Mica Paris' "Love U 2 Nite" in Feb and return with a new version of Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me" ("Straight From The Heart" 1982) today.

A few other version that we know of include Candy McKenzie in 1983 (which was reissued in 2022), Jammin Jeff in Feb '22 and Butcher Brown & Alex Isley did a version in Oct '21.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	ESOP
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	8A/95
Price:	£1

Say She She [2023] - Astral Plane [Karma Chief] (Full EP)

Ahead of the full album "Silver" due on 29 Sep, Colemine's Karma Chief imprint has released, what appears to be, a six track EP "Astral Plane" today. However, it includes five songs already released as singles, so presumably is just a teaser/preview of the full album evolving as new tracks are released as singles. The only new song is "Astral Plane".

Say She She is a trio from Brooklyn, NYC, with a sound that's a nod to late 70’s girl groups led by three female lead voices, Piya Malik (El Michels Affair), Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown and includes former members of the Dap-Kings, The Extraordinaires and members of funk band Orgone. Their name is a play on Chic's C'est Chic album.

If you're not yet familiar with their eclectic mix, then we posted their debut album "Prism" last October.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Karma Chief
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	5A/96
Price:	£1