2015 isn’t quite half way through yet, but modern soul collectors have been spoiled by the quality of compilations that have already been released. Brand leader, Expansion have treated us to their usual goodies and added a new series to their catalogue while the Reel People crew impressed us all with their ‘Soul Love 2015’ set. Hot on the heels of those great albums, comes this delightful new 15 tracker from an indie soul DJ who simply goes by the name So Soulful.
Mr Soulful began DJ-ing aged 15 when he went out as DJ Jai. Soul was (still is) his bag and over the years he’s hosted radio shows, headlined high profile gigs and set up his own label via his multi-visited web site.
That label is the source of ‘The So Soulful Collection Volume 2’. Volume 1 slipped by us here at SJF but we did notice that it peaked at #2 on the UK soul chart and it’s evident that Volume 2 is set to follow it into the best sellers – simply because the quality throughout is excellent and the vibe is bob on the current modern soul trend … contemporary flavours with a retro twist. Equally there’s plenty of variety with soul sourced from all over the place…. Italy, the US, France, Australia and, of course, the UK.
There’s also a great mix of very familiar names cheek by jowl with comparative unknowns. Amongst those newbies are Chidi who offers an urgent ‘You & Me’, Mike Champion with a sweet ‘Something For You’ and Mycle Wastman. Wastman apparently was one of the hits on the US version of the Voice and here he offers a very imaginative ‘Sugar’, replete with lots of tasty metaphors! From the UK TV talent show world we have Fil Straughan. Fil was a star of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ but soul fans will know him better for his Luther Vandross tributes. Hear how close he gets to the great man on ‘Sunlight In Your Life’.
Amongst the known names are Don E, Noel Gourdin, Al Castellana, Metropolis and Ty Causey and the album’s PR tells us that their inclusions (indeed everything here) is brand new and unavailable anywhere else…. not quite true. The collection features a fab tune from the ever-wonderful Maysa. The cut’s called ‘Smilin” and it features, of course, on the lady’s latest Shanachie outing. Not a problem…. a great tune, like everything here. Highly recommended. Find out more @ www.SoSoulful.co.uk
(BB) 4/5
