
We read a lot these days about Asian pop – catchy, teen-orientated ditties from Korean and Taiwanese artists. However, we don’t seem to get much soul from those far flung outposts – till now. So, may we introduce you to a new name to us – YUFU. Mr Y is a self-taught soul singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Taiwan, though he also spends a lot of time in Japan.
Yufu’s first forays into music saw him embrace indie sounds. His first band, Crocodile, specialised in psychedelic rock. However classic soul was his first love – a love fuelled by his parents’ collection of (often Taiwanese bootlegged) soul classics – artists like Barry White , Eddie Kendricks, Willie Hutch, Stevie, the Spinners and Marvin Gaye were on regular rotation chez Yufu. His parents, we’re told, we’re happy at his listening, hoping it would improve his English! Indeed it did – he became an English teacher but music was always his passion; thus his dalliance with indie and then back to classic soul.
His recording debut was 2021’s EP, ‘To My Pen Pal’ and he now follows that with this, his first full album and the concise ten tracker is an obvious homage to the music on which he cut his teeth – the classic soul sounds of the 70s.
That’s obvious from the start with the explosive ‘Are You Elevated’ where the clear reference is dear Stevie W circa ‘Superstition’. There’s more of those loose, jazzy, soulful, funky grooves on ‘Second Dose Of Love’ and the intrumental ‘Searchin’ For Some Lovin’’. ‘Envy And Jealousy’ offers a take on psycho soul à la Norman Whitfield while the sonic layers of ‘Heal Me Good’ seems inspired by a certain Marvi Gaye.
The album delivers plenty of quality, slower, gentler material too. ‘In Search Of A Cure’ is a dreamy ballad and the laid back electro beats of ‘When’ recall the flavours of, say, Timmy Thomas or William DeVaughn. The punchy ‘Honey If You’re Extra’ could’ve come off a 70s Tyrone Davis LP; it’s lovely – little wonder this one’s garnered over 200,00 streams already, while ‘The Third Dose of Your Mystic Love’ is a sweet slowie with an ambitious ending that reflects the “mystic” of the title.
So, yes, plenty of variety here and it’s clear that Yufu has indeed been listening to plenty of classic soul but in giving it back he puts his own spin on it and delivers with a convincing, gritty soul baritone. He tells us that the album is “an extraordinary exploration of love as a metaphorical medicine—capable of healing but also harming” and he adds that the title “reflects the therapeutic essence of soul music itself”. Maybe, but it’s the convincing soulful sound of the whole thing that captivates.
This ‘Heal Me Good’ LP is a lovely way to ease you into your 2025. It’s released on January 24th via Dutch label, Zip, and those indie Dutch labels sure know a thing or two about soul! Here’s the proof!
(BB) 4/5