The oddly titled ‘Songs in the Key of Grease’ is the new EP from Shanachie band, SOUL UNDERSTATED. Essentially a duo – vocalist Mavis “Swan” Poole and drummer Jeremy “Bean”, they tell us that the title of their mini collection is inspired by a certain Stevie Wonder long player, but where the “grease” bit comes in, I’m not quite sure.
Lead track is the quirky ‘Wibble Wobble’, a sultry, funky workout on which the reference point is more Macy Gray than Stevie Wonder. ‘So What’ offers more soul meandering, though here, and indeed throughout there’s also a distinct 70s retro feel. So a pigeon-hole for Soul Understated? What about retro/neo soul… maybe.
