Juno Recommends Soul: October 2022

Review: Classic soul band The Moments serve up a couple more gems for this red hot series on Dynamite Cuts. First is a steamy, seductive, sexy version of the Lee Forsey classic 'Ride Your Pony'. The gentle drums, the swinging synths and the sting sounds are all topped with butter-smooth vocals. On the back side is something just as majestic and heart warming - 'Sugar Sugar' is a real singalong gem with nice sax stabs, freaky synth bass that never stops squelching and just good vibes that you never want to end.

Review: Tunnie Smith was born to sing, and 'Dancing On Da Clouds' is the biggest belting under his belt. Handpicked by his pastor in the early 1970s, this lesser-known golden child soon found himself touring every corner of his home state of Louisiana. His first record deal followed, which led to a slew of promised releases and shelvings, rises and falls. 10 years later, a chance meeting with producer George 'Paco' Patterson helped catapult Smith to indie stardom, and his relatively underground status helped foster the uniquely atmospheric mood of these two devotional pieces. They somehow straddle the rapture of soul and the later washiness of dream pop; a strangely beautiful release.

Review: Even global economic and social tumult can't faze The Harlem Gospel Travelers, who as a three-piece vocal unit are ever looking onwards and upwards towards the divine. Their first full-length LP as a trio, 'Look Up!' urges us to see the brighter side of live through intense gospel-soul fuelled by quasi-electronic breakbeats and modern production sheen.

Review: Monterey was a previously lost track from Eden Ahbez, a soulful and almost sorrowful slow jam with sensational performances from Lee Pardini on piano and Mando Dorame on tenor sax. The vocals are hauntingly beautiful in contrast to the peppy organ lead 'Straight Love Affair' with its swing leanings. Waterhouse made his name in the Psych scene in California, though you can hear in 'Monterey' that he still keeps his blues sensibilities about him, and this is another welcome addition to the growing pantheon of tributes to Ahbez's material - a much appreciated display of recognition to songwriting brilliance. Just let the wave of sound wash over you.

Review: An underground J-pop sensation of her time, Meiko Nakahara was one of Eastworld's cash cows (the label's parent company was Toshiba, which gives you some guess as to how commercially-oriented their roster and music was!). Nijimadeno Cinderella (Friday Magic) was her second album, and featured myriad references to classical literature and fantasy in the name of pop ethereality. This reissue, timeless in its pushing of the J-pop precursor kayokyoku, comes at no better time!

Review: Since first joining forces with fellow Finnish funkateers Cold Diamond & Mink - the studio band behind Helsinki stable Timmion Records - back in 2017, Bobby Oroza has built up quite a catalogue of retro-futurist soul gems, including recently released sophomore album Get On The Otherside. The two tracks featured on this must-check "45" are both featured on that set and feature typically strong backing from the seriously talented - and ever-reliable - Cold Diamond & Mink. A-side 'My Place, My Time' is a genuinely super-sweet affair, with Oroza delivering an impeccably emotive and soulful lead vocal over a beautiful backing track that tends towards the achingly heartfelt and wonderfully melancholy. 'Through These Tears', meanwhile, is a relaxed, slow-motion treat rich in sustained Hammond chords, strummed electric guitar and languid marimba melodies.

Review: Tel Aviv based four-piece and well regarded super group Sababa 5 joins forces with vocal revelation Shiran Tzfira who makes an appearance on vinyl for the very first time here. The resulting sounds are psyched-out Middle Eastern grooves that are hugely infectious. The tracks reinterpret the traditional Yemenite songs of Shiran's childhood and the results are modern mixes of disco, funk, boogie, pop, and rock. This is EP is a collision of cultures and musical styles that is sure to win all involved legions of new fans all over the world.

Review: Eugene Lamont Johnson aka Lamont Johnson is known amongst those who now as the first man to ever become renowned internationally for playing freestyles R&B bass. What a lovely fact. The Michican born artist first came to note as a session musician with Gloster Williams &The King Vision and then went on to work with various other bands. Here we get presented with two of his previously unreleased dance tunes. They feature various different local Detroit musicians and vocalists with the a-side being a male vocal led feel good bunker and the flip driven by a synthesised baseline and big female vocal. Boogie-tastic.

Review: Chicago-native Cecil Lyde's Home Boy And The C.O.L. album is often said to be his standout work. It dropped back in 1984 with his Home Boy group and was a swift follow up to 1982's self titled debut. Earlier works were defined by a lovely lo-fi aesthetic while this record goes big right for the off with an eight minute epic to kick off. 80s electro-funk then defines much of the rest of it with all sorts of big hits along the way. It makes for a luxurious listen with some self-reflective tunes like the ballad 'I Don't Want To Be A Movie Star,' and then some tension building and passionate vocal harmonies. This reissue comes a limited edition LP with obi-strip.