George HaffendenOne of the highlights of recent years for the UK soul fan has been the release of the Soul Togetherness compilations which combine the best in new neo-soul as well as re-issues. This year the people behind this project have released a great new compilation entitled Soul Life combining new songs as well as previously unissued soul grooves.
The album is primarily full of up-tempo dance tunes that would suit any soul club perfectly. In fact, the first song on the compilation makes it worth checking out: the incredible Incognito have teamed up with vocalist Imanni and the Diplomats of Soul to re-create Tom Browne’s epic ‘Brighter Tomorrow’. More than re-create the song, they’ve somehow managed to re-define the song creating an infectious groove that has made consider which version we prefer: it’s simply that good. Sparkles and Ethel bring the neo-groove to this collection with ‘So Good’, a delightful eighties influenced song invoking the inspiration of The Whispers among others.
The selection of Soulperfreesia’s (the combination of SOulpersona and Princess Freesia, who recently collaborated again on an excellent new album) ‘Saving All My Kisses’ is inspired: their Amalgamation LP released last year was one of the most talked out works on the UK soul scene. Dutch soul men Cool Million team up with Marc Evans on ‘Dontcha Wanna Dance’, a deliciously tasty groove. The track is brilliantly funky, the horn arrangement is wonderful as is the overall production of the song.
‘Something About You’ by Sean McCabe and Jennifer Wallace has a house flavour to it; indeed, it seems like an update of the house material that Jocelyn Brown sang on back in the day. Whatever the inspiration was, it is another great selection with a standout vocal performance from Wallace.
Not content with merely re-creating some Tom Browne, Incognito also collaborate with Olga Makovetskay on another brilliant song entitled ‘Got to Keep Moving On’. The Incognito horns are on fire here, riding that classic Incogntio bass, drum and guitar foundation that Bluey and his ensemble have perfected over the years. Makovetskay’s vocals are outstanding too; this is certainly one the albums standouts.
Chris Ballin provides one of the more mellow moments on the collection with ‘Endlessly’ which has an almost Stevie Wonder feel about it circa the ‘Golden lady’ years. That said, Ballin has a great voice and this mid-tempo groove is arranged beautifully. Sheree Brown also slows the tempo of the compilation down too with the beautiful ‘Your Love Lifts Me Higher’ – the vocals are right on point on this one.
Expansion Records have outdone themselves with this compilation. It is incredible groovy, and full of great selections which appear to have been carefully selected – a rarity when it comes to new soul compilations released by major record labels. This is sure to become one of the must-have albums of the year.