Soul Brother Records best albums and singles of 2018 BEST SOUL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2018 THE SUFFERS – EVERYTHING HERE TATIANA LADY MAY MAYFIELD – THE NEXT CD £12.99/LP £21.99 CHAPTER Houston based multi-piece The Suffers, lead by the CD £19.99 powerful voice of Kam Franklin, have delivered a Six years after her highly acclaimed 'Portrait Of strong second album that deserves its place in the top Lady May' album was released Tatiana Ladymay soul releases of the year. The timeless, vintage full Mayfield returns with 'The Next Chapter' and the band sound, the tight melodies steeped in references soul jazz fusion with those sweet strong vocals is to a golden past and the dynamic tones of the lead back in full effect. The irresistible foottapping groove vocalist combine to create a set that will be on repeat of 'I Want More', the laid back jazzy washes of 'Me play for a long time. The sprawling 'I Think I love You' is And You' and the organic, soaring feel of 'Overflow' sun drenched soul with jazz tints, the playful 'Do Whatever' is a bouncy, light really kick the set off well. 'Insomnia' has an emphatic, building quality and hearted and uplifting groove while the poly rhythmic 'The One About Sace' allows Kam's incredible vocals to shine on a superbly inventive, infectious tune again straddles soul and jazz perfectly with her talented band laying down a that is impossible not to move to. The pacey, summery groove of 'What You tight groove, the acapella 'Starting Over' demonstrates the strength of her Said' has that Incognito style percussion and keys vibe, the more laid back 'All I voice while the album is bookended with two 10 minute + tracks that allow Wanna Do' and 'Remain' excel in their use of space while 'Charlotte' and 'After Mayfield and the band to emphasise the message. The social politically The Storm' are good ballad duets. 'Mammas' is a stunning crossover gem that charged 'Freedom' is a delicate protest song while 'The Next Chapter' gives sees Kam slipping into that throaty Anita Baker style of delivery while the soft Tatiana room to scat over the swgaggering funky groove that builds to a swagger of 'You Only Call' is a mellow groover that bubbles away under the crescendo. A strong return. surface. They close out this 15 track set with stunning southern beat ballad 'Won't Be Here Tomorrow'. Superb album. Essential. ISAIAH SHARKEY – LOVE LIFE LIVE STEAL VYBE – GENERATIONS CD £17.99 CD £17.99 Grammy award winning Isiah Sharkey is maybe We have a quality soulful house album from Steal better known for working with the likes of D'Angelo, Vybe. 'Generations', is a feel-good album that is Lalah Hathaway, Anderson Paak and Brian McKnight comprised of multiple genres of music tied into a among others but on his debut album 'Love Life Live' hybrid style of dance music that contains elements he shows that he's a talent as a front man too. The from r&b/soul, jazz, nu jazz, funk, afro, disco, loft Don Blackman/D'Angelo groove of 'Pop My Toes' is a disco, broken-beat, drum & bass, samba. Latin, 80s great, low slung funker, the chilled out 'Heaven' boogie back, soulful house, and much more than again shows D'Angelo influences but has that old meets the ear. A top drawer selection of guests, school thread running throughout while the infectious 'Special Lady' is a Alexa Gold, Fertile Ground, Kenny Bobien, Lifford Shillingford, Monday modern soul gem. The slow tempo 'LH' has a sultry, languorous feel that Michiru, Omar, Peven Everett, Sara Devine, Sheree Hicks, Stephanie Renée, really grows, the vintage, swinging groove of 'Believe' is coupled with a Trizonna McClendonan, Ursula Rucker and more. Don't sleep on this gem! Curtis-esque falsetto and lyrics to match while the title track gets back to the bass lead funk of the opening track. Excellent stuff. SWING OUT SISTER – ALMOST PERSUADED CORNELL CC CARTER – ONE LOVE CD £15.99 CD £13.99/LP £19.99 San Franciscan Cornell CC Carter follows up his It's amazing to think that it's almost 30 years since much praised 'VindicatedSoul' set from 2018 with his Swing Out Sister released their first album with the new offering 'One Love' that features production work pop-soul hit 'Breakout'. With three decades of form the likes of Morgan Howell (Soulpersona, UK), experience behind them the duo of Corrine Drewery Brian Braziel, David Council, and Kirk Crumpler. and Andy Connell certainly know how to craft lush, at There's an oldskool feel about the album with times expansive dreamy soulscapes and at others, 'Winners' and 'Relax' sounding like late 80s dance highly polished, sophisticated jazz tinged grooves grooves, 'Badeyah' is another, more contemporary and 'Almost Persuaded' is drenched in both. The slab of modern soul while the relaxed tempo of 'Free' sultry, sparkling 'Happier Than Sunshine' has an infectious head nodding brings some contrast. The rich, percussive 'One Love' has shades of Marvin, tempo aided by trickling drops of percussion and keys that add atmosphere, the bubbling 'That's My Baby' and the mellow stepper 'Maybe' both score the Bacharach style 'Almost Persuaded' has a delightfully lazy, mellow vibe high while the expansive, mid tempo 'Life' is a gem. Also check the warm while 'I Wish I Knew' tips a wink to London's swinging 60s while at the same grooves of 'That Feelin' and the sumptuous 'Getaway' for more highlights. time being thoroughly modern – something the duo do so well. Corinne's Another strong set that will please his fans and earn new followers. voiced adopts a rougher edge on the lovely, percussion lead mid tempo 'Everyone's Here' while the jazz club vibe of 'Be My Valentine' is a bittersweet tale told to a backing that brings to mind a sophisticated cocktail party. Highly accomplished music to relax to. NATASHA WATTS – MY NEXT CHAPTER ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD AND ADRIAN CD £14.99 YOUNGE PRESENT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR UK Singer-song-writer Natasha Watts impressed with CD £12.99/2LP £34.99 2016's 'Second Time Around' and her new album, Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest and created with input from Richard Earnshaw, Josh composer Adrian Younge have joined forces to create Milan, Soul Persona, Simon 'Schooly' Phillips, Benji a 20 track gem of an album that includes contributions Ranks and Kelvin Sylvester, is a strong return. 'My from Raphael Saadiq, Questlove, Bilal, Digable Next Chapter' documents familiar themes of love, Planets' Ladybug Mecca, among others. The concept hope, passion and regret all delivered with Natasha's for the album was to celebrate the heritage of black powerful, assured vocals. 'I Do, I Did, I'm Done' is a creativity in Harlem from its early days in the 1930s. smooth, multi-layered slice of modern soul, 'It's All Good' has some The haunting, filmic opener 'Black Beacon' sounds like the theme to an unknown crime drama from the early 70s, the stifled atmosphere of 'It's You' deliciously vintage touches while 'Enjoy Yourself' rides on a funky B-line and has a basement soul quality while the punchy, stop start groove of 'Questions' a warm keyboard riff that create a jazz feel. The big, boogie feel of 'L.O.V.E' merges disparate styles well. Luther Vandross' lilting 'So Amazing' is sampled is a strong mid-tempo clubber, 'Out Of My Mind' is a pacier dance number and given fresh twist, the gorgeous, summery 'Smiling For Me' features the that again shines with a delightful throwback groove while 'Talk To Me' has a sweet, easy tones of Karolina while instrumental cuts like 'Gate 54', 'Redneph funky bump in the rhythm. The summery, positive vibe of 'Special Day' works In B-Minor' and 'Better Endeavor' take their cue from the kind of film score well with Natasha's fine, effortless vocals, 'Only You' again slips into jazzy sounds that Mayfield and Hayes excelled at. Eryn Allen Kane's powerful tones soul territory and is the pick of the slower tracks while 'Fly Away' is a big, grace the funkier 'Love Is Free' while Marsha Ambrosius guests on the superb bustling soulful house number aimed solely at the feet. The album is beat heavy soul of 'Don't Keep Me Waiting'. The set is closed out by the superb wrapped up with the Island influenced 'Baby, Baby, Baby' that offers a sunny, ghetto funk soundtrack style 'Ravens'. Excellent, rewarding album a long time upbeat end to a superb album. Essential for soul fans. in the making. BEST SOUL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2018 AGAPE SOUL – CONVERSATIONS CD £17.99 K. AVETT – LIONESS CD £15.99 Bassist Darryl Anders releases his band's much anticipated second album, 'Lioness' is the highly anticipated Sophomore album from Texas-based K. a follow up to 2012 'Believe In Love' and the wait was worth it. Real Avett and the blend of styles across this ten track offering works well with instruments, strong song writing and quality production mark Ms Avett's voice that has sass and swagger in equal measure – there are 'Conversations' as one of the best of the year. The uplifting 'Kite' is a touches of N'Dambi in places but she has her own distinctive tone. The positive message song with a strong groove, 'Changes' has a strong soul- organic, jazzy soul of 'Feelin Good' brings to mind early Ledisi, Noel jazz flavour while the mid tempo bluesy beat ballad 'The Lesson' is another Gourdin guests on the superb, funky edged 'Soldier', the mellow 'What Are highlight.