Soul Strutter: 09/01/23

Friday, 1 September 2023

Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth [2023] - We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue (Strings Version) [Acid Jazz]

Earlier this year Acid Jazz in conjunction with Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman released an album by Billy Valentine. The album, "Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth", consisted of covers and the lead single was Curtis Mayfield's "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue" (From "Curtis" 1970).

A new shorter version "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue (Strings Version)" along with the original has been released today.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Acid Jazz
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/09/2023
Key/BPM:	1A/62
Price:	£1.79

A.S.K. [2023] - Rewind [ISIM Records]

The debut single from A.S.K., "Rewind' (posted from promo last week) is out today (1 Sep). It has a bit of an 80s feel with the recurring riff reminiscent of S.O.S. Band's "Weekend Girl".

Texas (Fort Worth) born, Virginia Beach raised, singer / songwriter A.S.K. (Always Seeking Knowledge) (aka Shaqreeyah Washington) proudly graduated from The Hampton University with a masters in Architecture in 2017. Whilst rooted in gospel, her music is R&B and Neo Soul.

We also discovered that Shaqreeyah is a body builder competing in NPC Ironman Saratosa in 2022 coming third in one section and fourth in another of the Wellness category.

Whilst this appears to be her debut solo single, she released a gospel album "Beyond the Stars" with her younger sister Kenisha as a duo named Angels Of God in 2007 when she was 16 and her sister 14. It's still available and on Spotify.

The single is from a forthcoming EP "99 2K" due in 2024.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	ISIM Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/09/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Aphrose [2023] - Roses [LRK Records #LRK-LP04] (Album Promo)

Announced today by LRK Records is the forthcoming release of the sophomore album by Toronto's Aphrose titled "Roses".

The album is available to pre-order via Bandcamp for release digitally, on CD and vinyl on 12 Oct. The three singles "Good Love", "YaYa" and the album title track "Roses" will be on the album and are available digitally now.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	TBC
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	LRK Records
Cat No:	LRK-LP04
Date:	12/10/2023
Price:	£10 / £8 / £18

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression [2023] - Bona Fide [Self Released] (Full Album)

Having spent many years singing in church, in backup roles, with cover bands and in stage plays, Joslyn Hampton, from Lexingon, KT, teamed up with her stepfather, Marty Charters, to write songs and form a group Joslyn & The Sweet Compression.

After a few singles, an eponymous debut album was released in 2019. The follow up sophomore album "Bona Fide" was released last Friday which is a collection of old school funk and soul with a southern flava.

The choice cut for us is the familiar sounding, although it appears to be a new song, "Write A Love Song" (sounding a tad like something Ann Peebles may have recorded).

Along with her guitarist stepfather (who has played with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and Van Morrison) the band consist of Kasym Moldogaziev (guitar), Isaac Stephens (trumpet), Smith Donaldson (bass), Rashawn Fleming (drums), Trevin Little (saxophone) and Sam Richardson (keys).

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/08/2023
Price:	£7.99

Ruby Wood [2023] - Sincerely [First Word Records] (Full EP)

Huddersfield's Ruby Wood has been attracting new listeners with her last two singles and has now released a five track EP "Sincerely" today which we alluded to in the post for her last single. It will also be available on vinyl.

The EP includes her last two singles, "My Favourite Sing" (12 Jul) and "Me And My Girl" (4 Aug). By sheer coincidence the last track includes Isaac Malibu who was also featured on "Midnight" with Ghilburt.

Unfortunately we don't think any of the three new songs better the first two singles with "Let Him Go" being our choice from them.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	First Word Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/09/2023
Price:	£3.49 / £10.99