LEELA JAMES –LETS DO IT AGAIN CD £16.95
Leela further establishes herself as one of the best new soul singers with this great cover versions album. It features a really good 'live' band with real instruments, with Leela's powerful soulful voice soaring above them on some familiar soul tracks. 'Clean up Woman' , 'Let's Do It Again' and 'You Know How To Love Me' are true to the originals but sound very fresh, and even 'I Miss you' really grooves. The killers though are the ballads where her voice really shines especially on 'It's A Man's World', 'Baby I'm Scared Of You', 'Nobody Wants You When Youre Down And Out' and the outstanding and possibly definitive version of Angela Bofill's 'I Try'. Possibly one of the best cover's album ever Brilliant.
also highly recommended 'A Change Is Gonna Come' CD £9.95 (special price until 30/4)

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HEAVY – FIRST SESSIONS CD £14.95
From 2 or 3 years ago, this album is Heavy at their best. The female lead vocalist excels on seamless organic grooves like 'Do For You' and the quirky 'Sez Who Sez Me' – with its Hancock style keyboard solo. The beautiful 'Summer Song', 'Change', the slowed-down 'She Who Knows'. Check the funky 'Music' and the mid-tempo 'I Know My Way'. Another standout is the lilting, dreamy 'Wonderlove'. This quality album has a similar vibe to labelmates Liquid Spirits or a more edgy Rebirth sprinkled with a touch of Sy Smith (try DJ Spinna's remix of 'Just Can't Get'.) Brilliant.


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JAMES DAY – NATURAL THING CD £12.95
Strong album in a more traditional soul style featuring guest vocals from Mikelyn Roderick, Gavin Christopher, Ian martin, Audrey Wheeler, Karen Bernod and Jeff Ramsey. The all star band features Walter Beasley, U-NAM amongst other known players. 'Speak Love' is a nice mid tempo floater, 'Happy on Hold' and 'Love Makes' are good mid tempo steppers. 'Sponsored By Love' is a great modern soul dancer, and 'Skin You're In' and 'If You Didn't (remix) are also good dancers. 'Natural Thing' and 'Any Kind Of love' are good ballads. Really nice soulful album.

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MAKEDA - ESCAPE FROM EGYPT CD £14.95
The artist formerly known as Tiffany Laing returns with another great jazzy soul album, featuring a great band with horns and real drums. Makeda has a very distinctive soulful voice, powerful at times, soothing at others, and she really excels throughout with great multi-layered harmonies. 'I Wish' is a fantastic upper mid tempo stepper, 'My Life' a good mid tempo dancer, and 'The Dayz' a nice mid tempo foot taper. 'Childhood Game' , 'Soul Of A Man', 'Moonlight' and I've Changed' are slower jazzy soul with good instrumentation. The ballad 'Forever' and the cover of Deniece Williams 'Free' are also good. Really good listening album.


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CORNEILLE –BIRTH OF CORNELIUS CD £12.95
Nice mainly mid tempo new soul album by singer/songwriter, with good lyrics and melodies featuring Corneille's soulful vocals.and mainly backed by Larry Gold's string arrangements. The string laden 'Back To Life' has a 'Heston' feel to it, 'All Of My love' is another nice mid tempo track. The catchy finger popper 'Murder' , mid tempo ballad 'A Man Of This World' which has a good hook line and the slower ballad 'Foolish Heart' are also good, on this consistent album.


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SHIRLEY BROWN – UNLEASHED CD £16.95
Shirley returns after a long lapse and records another good southern soul album for Malaco.
The highlights are the 2-stpeers 'Watch What You Tell Your Friends' , 'I Don't Wanna Leave' and 'you Shoulda Known Better'. Shirley has always excelled on the ballads and 'Wish You Didn't Love Me So Good', 'Why' , 'When I Hear your Move' and 'You Ain't Gone get No More Of My Love' wont disappoint. The more uptempo 'Let Me relax You' grooves along nicely, the album would have benefitted from more real instrumentation ,but it's a welcome return.
highly recommended 'Shirley Brown' CD £12.95


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TORTURED SOUL – DID YOU MISS ME CD £13.95
For upbeat dance grooves and beats, this one of the best albums out there at the moment. 'Home To You' kicks matters off with a fine upbeat Soul groove. 'Did You Miss Me' and the luscious 'Time To Make Up Your Mind' sustain the quality. 'Unsteady' has soulful groove, whilst 'We Like Tequila' adds a samba tilt to a jazzy groove. 'Special Lady' is a pumping tune – dancefloor magic and probably the strongest track on the album. Tortured Soul skilfully strike the balance between uptempo Soul and Garage, making this set unusual in that all the tracks are danceable – excellent basslines and kicking drums.


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SOUL STEPPERS CD/DVD £14.95
Uplifting album featuring 24 new modern soul tracks , with an extra 5 on the DVD with a mid 70's early disco soul feel, written and produced by Ian Levine. Highlights are the dancers Laverta Lewis 'Better Times Ahead', Concentrations 'Anticipation', Tommy Hunt 'Nothing But Good Times', Milton Brown 'Riding Over The Rough Spots, Noel McKoy 'Just A Lucky Fella' and Pearly Gates 'Once Bitten Twice Show'. The mid tempo dancers Delroy Pinnock 'Halfway To Your heart', Gina Foster 'Love Is Overdue' and the slightly slower Ebony Alleyne 'In my Own Defence', Peter Lamarr/Gina Foster 'Miracles' are also good on this obviously retro but fresh sounding album


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PHLASH & FRIENDS – DEEP ELECTRONIC SOUND CD £15.95
Phil Asher (Restless Soul) returns in his Phlash mode with some soulful results. Check out the good groove of 'Look At What We've Done' feat. Fyza. The bumping' soulful House of Jungle Orchidz feat. Alma Horton and 'Think About It' feat. Zansika will get you moving. Instrumentals such as Minefield and the heavy synth of 'Do It Up' have a tech edge that would appeal to the Broken Beat crew. This is an album of progressive and contemporary club tunes.

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