Leftfield " Leftism " .....a great article from BBC celebrating the best album I worked on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39870759?SThisFB

I signed Leftfield and the creation of " Leftism " was just incredible....I knew that Neil and Paul were making a GREAT album

The Gorillaz new album "Humanz " may be their best yet

Greetings everyone.......The Soul Guru here to talk Gorilllaz ,not Gorillas as much as I love them .
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's virtual art/funk/rap project is one of the most innovative musical/visual projects I've ever seen......truly unique and outstanding . The cartoon characters featured in the videos are are Noodle, 2-D, Murdoc and Russell Hobbs.

" Clint Eastwood " ,Produced by Dan The Automator ,remains a Soul Guru top tune,released in 2001....the video is a classic featuring Del The Funky Homosapien

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UclCCFNG9q4

Their debut album " The Gorillaz " was released shortly after featuring " 19-2000 " , another tune I really like with another brilliant video :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq7Ovshz1UI

May 2005 saw the release of " Demon Days "....a reallly excellent album featuring " Dirty Harry another great tune with a BRILLIANT video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLnkQAeMbIM

My favourite track is Dare featuring the GREAT Shaun Ryder and this amazing video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAOR6ib95kQ

Then came "  Plastic Beach " featuring Snoop Dog,Bobby Womack,Mos Def,Lou Reed ,Mark E Smith,Kano, Bashy,DeLa Soul and more......it's another great album....here's " Welcome To The World Of Plastic Beach " featuring Snoop...he's SO cool !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0OVD0_YJnU

In 2012 Albarn and Hewlett fell out...making the possibilty of new music from The Gorillaz unlikely...but of course never say never in the music biz and today " Humanz " was made available and it has been well worth the wait !
The album features De La Soul,Grace Jones, Rag " n" Bone Man, Vince Staples,Noel Gallagher , Pusha T and more .
The single " Sturnz Bars " featuring Popcaan is really great as is the video :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qJp6xlKEug

Ascension featuring Vince Staple is equally brilliant :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBA0PUQCvIA

WRITING ABOUT THE GORILLAZ,LISTENING TO THEIR MUSIC AND WATCHING THEIR VIDEOS HAS MADE ME REALISE JUST HOW UNIQUE AND BRILLIANT THEY ARE.....LISTEN TO HUMANZ NOW ON SPOTIFY

The Soul Guru Loves YOU xx

Jessie Reyez...where did she come from ? She's amazing !

Hello dear friends,believers,non-believers and " just don't give a fuck " folk....regardless I come bearing great news !
Even my age - 125 in thetanyears ) I am still enthralled and excited by great new music.....and this week I heard a new female artist who I believe is truly outstanding.....ladies and gentlemen I give you Jessie Reyez whose debut album " Kiddo " appeared this week and it is magnificent !

I don't know much about her except she's a singer/songwriter from Toronto and her album was made available on Friday .

It's a very deep album.....just listen to and watch the video to " Shutter Island " ( what a great book that is and the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_BJveYMF4

" Figures " is another track fro " Kiddo "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxLUj1Mrars

I need to know more about Jessie Reyez because her music is really fresh, passionate and truly outstanding....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

Kendrick Lamaar " Damn "

Just over a year ago I wrote about Kendrick about his latest album

http://thesoulguru.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-soul-guru-recommends-kendrick.html

Previously I'd written about " To Pimp A Butterfly " which remains one of my favourite contemporary albums .

Yesterday Kendrick released his new album " Damn " preceded by the outstanding single " Humble "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvTRZJ-4EyI

Compared to Kanye West Kendrick wipes the floor with an artist whose music I find vacuous and purely ego-driven.....and that's being complimentary .
Since " To Pimp A Butterfly " Kendrick has been compared to Marvin Gaye ,John Coltrane and even Mahatma  Ghandi which is clearly unfair on such a young artist . Maybe as an attempt to redress the balance he did guest appearances on tracks by Beyonce ,Kanye West,Sia and incredibly Maroon 5 !

So we come to " Damn "....which i-tunes described as a " grab-you-by-the-throat thats as blunt,complex and unfliching as the name suggests "....I couldn't have put it better myself

If you're interested in contemporary Black Music " Damn " is essential listening and Kendrick Lamar is an artist at the peak of his powers .

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

Jo Harman ... a great talent !

Good morning disciples ,believers ,,non-believers and just " don't knows " welcome to this week's edition of " Music For The Soul ". Today I want to tell you about a great English SOUL/blues/gospel talent whose new album " People We Become " is truly outstanding .

I was introduced to Jo's music by a great friend who I signed to Virgin Records a few years ago....another lady with a great voice...Eugenie Arrowsmith who is currently making some terrific new music with her husband ,the supremely gifted Pepps Pepper . Once there's something I can share with you I will.

So who is Jo Harman ? She was born in Luton but raised in that well-known hotbed of SOUL music....Lustleigh in Devon . The Soul Guru grew up in rural Gloucestershire, Alice Russell in Suffolk and Jo in Devon.......we all share a love of SOUL music .....I think it was something in the country air that lead us to live SOUL lives !

After releasing her debut album " Live At The Hideaway " in 2011 it was her debut studio album " Dirt On My Tongue " that started to make the British Blues community take notice of a prodigious new voice .
The beautiful track written about her father " Sweet Man Moses " was nominated for Best Composition at 2012's British Blues Awards but to these ears it's a great SOUL song....here's link to the track on youtube .....ENJOY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYMIi8LyBzM

In February this year Jo released her stunning album " People We Become " which is the album Eugenie played me.....it's a  really outstanding SOUL album recorded in Nashville Tennessee with Producer  Fred Mollin . This quote from Jo's biog perfectly describes the sound " full of upright piano, Rhodes, unaffected bursts of electric guitar  and the SOULFUL sweep of Jo's vocal " " People We Become " is bringing Jo and her music to much wider audience .

The debut single " When We Were Young " ,featuring the legendary Michael McDonald on backing vocals , was playlisted on Radio 2......here's link to the video ,it's a fabulous song that shows just what a great SOUL voice Jo has

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyWw7ixwKjs

As Jo said " I've learned how to express myself a bit better , and to convincingly put across the stories I'm telling "

I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Jo live yet but I'm sure I will sooner rather than later as I'm told she's absolutely brilliant .
If you like great SOUL songs beautifully played and sung then Jo Harman's " People We Become " is HIGHLY recommended.....listen on Spotify then buy on i-tunes or CD .

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

John Legend is the " new " Marvin Gaye

Good morning disciples,believers,non-believers,sceptics and just " don't knows "....welcome to The Soul Guru's " Music For The Soul " ....not just about SOUL music but about music that touches my Soul .
Today's subject does just that....in fact I think he is the " new " Marvin Gaye.....Marvin is my hero,my idol my inspiration so I don't say that lightly . He's also a fine actor too who is great inLa La Land .

Originally I didn't pay him much attention ,thinking he was just another SOUL lover-man whose music was lightweight and insubstantial but in the years since the release of his debut album " Get Lifted " he has matured into a truly great artist who sings songs of social injustice for African Americans in the USA .....his latest album " Darkness And Light " is a great contemporary SOUL album ...but more of that later .

The first time I realised what a great artist he is was when I listened to his album  in collaboration with The Roots " Wake Up " which included covers of seminal SOUL songs .Inspired by the 2008 US Presidential election and includes covers of some of the great 60's and 70's SOUL songs including Marvin's " Wholy Holy " , Donny Hathaway's " Little Ghetto Boy " , and the brilliant " Hard Times " by Baby Huey and The Babysitters ( what a great name for a band ! ) . Here's a great live performance with The Roots and Black Thought

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkxMm0lYx08

If you haven't heard the album I urge you to listen.....it's a classic .

2013's " Love In The Future "  is another good album ,executive Produced by John,Kanye West and Dave Tozer I like it but found it a bit disappointing overall.....here the video to the first singlr from the album " Who Do We Think We Are " featuring Rick Ross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsYrpNHQ6hg

This brings me to his latest album " Darkness and Light " released in December 2016 . I really LOVE this album !
John Legend has an amazing SOUL voice ,he sounds better on each album . Featuring collaborations with Chance The Rapper , Brittany Howard and Miquel this is his best album so far .
Here's  " Penthouse Floor " featuring Chance The Rapper :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHdBsQFcYrw

The album's first single " Love Me Now " is a beautiful song with great lyrics and outstanding Production by Blake Mills and John Ryan....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmCFY1oYDeM

The more I listen the more I love the album

John and Common collaborated on the Grammy Award winning " Glory " from Selma....a truly GREAT collaboration  from a GREAT movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o

John's career as an actoe is not to overlooked as those of us who have seen La La Land know but this is a post about John Legend's music career....a LEGEND of contemporary SOUL music

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

Thundercat' s new album " Drunk " is exceptional

Welcome believers,non-believers,sceptics and just " don't knows " to another post from The Soul Guru
Over the past month I've been listening to Thundercat's new album " Drunk " a lot.....and each time I listen I like it more .
Thundercat ( Stephen Bruner ) is a multi-talented musician ( bass player par excellence ) , vocalist and Producer whose list of credits is as long as both my arms but is most well known for his work with Kendrick Lamar,Erykah Badu and Flying Lotus .
He was also in seminal thrash metal band Suicidal Tendencies.....but I haven't a clue what they sound like !

" Drunk " is his finest work to date ,featuring collaborations with the legendary Michael McDonald and Hawaiian shirt expert Kenny Loggins on " Show You The Way "....here it is ( please let me know if these links work ) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62EmHhZSjEI

My favourite track is " Walk On By " featuring the best MC in the world ....Kendrick Lamar , here it is :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV8HYokDWeE

Thundercat has collaborated with Kendrick before,winning a Grammy for " Best Rap/Sung Collaboration " for "These Walls " with Bilal and Anna Crane from Kendricks brilliant " To Pimp A Butterfly " album . Here it is :

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kendrick+lamar+these+walls

His collaborations with Erykah Badu on " New Amerykah  Part One " ....4th World War ( 2008 ) and " New Amerykah Part Two " ..." Return Of The Ankh "( 2010 ) are both exceptional .
He also Produced 2 tracks on Mac Miller's " GO.OD AM " album including " Brand Name :...here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuCyrtGQhAk

I urge you to take time to listen to Thundercat's new album " Drunk "....it's well worth it

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

A MESSAGE FROM THE SOUL GURU .....IF YOU'RE READING THIS AND HAVEN'T " LIKED " THE SOUL GURU'S FACEBOOK PAGE PLEASE DO NOW....IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO CLICK....PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @THESOULGURU

Alice Russell....a true British SOUL legend

Disciples,believers,sceptics and just don't knows you are all welcome to The Soul Guru's congregation....don't forget to take off your shoes please

Whilst walking by the sea yesterday with my i-pod on " Shuffle " ( I like not knowing what's coming next ) a wonderful female SOUL voice stopped me in my tracks....to my shame I couldn't immediately say who it was so eventually I sneaked a look.....of course,it was the incredible sound of Alice Russell's " Hard Times "from the classic " Under The Munka Moon " album...here it is :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ3g7gk15Tk

I spent the rest of my walk listening to Alice and right now I'm listening to 2005's " My Favourite Letters " album....it's beautiful .
So following last week's post about Lewis Taylor I thought I should redress the balance and write about a great female British SOUL singer.....the one and only Alice Russell .

Alice was born and raised in rural Suffolk...not excatly a hot-bed of British SOUL music ....listening to Aretha,Stevie Wonder and other SOUL greats .

Alice first appeared as a vocalist in the early 2000's via collaborations with TM Juke,Bah Samba and her first album " Under The Munka Moon " was released in 2004 via Rob Louis's outstanding, innovative ( and Brighton-based ) Soul/Jazz label Tru Thoughts...one of my favourite UK Labels .
The album was a compilation of various singles,collaborations and remixes and though covering several styles - SOUL,Jazz,Hip-Hop is a great body of work.

Her debut solo album " My Favourite Letters " was released in 2005,once again on Tru Thoughts - and is a brilliant debut....Alice's SOUL vocals combined with great Production by by TM Juke signalled the arrival of a new British SOUL star .Here's " Humankind " from a truly exceptional album :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqncjHyVVMg

In 2006 " Under The Munka Moon II " was released by Tru Thoughts and was another collection of collaborations,covers and remixes including Alice and Nostalgia 77's excellent  cover of " Seven Nation Army ". Here it is :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ4D273C7Ac

The first time I saw Alice live was at 2006's " Big Chill " Festival -still the best Festival ever I think. Her live show was and remains a fantastic experience...a classic SOUL review in every sense of the word...I've seen her many times since and she's always fabulous,a great entertainer and that voice ! !

In 2008 Alice released " Pot Of Gold " on her own Little Poppet label and  the US Six Degrees Records The album was re-released on Little Poppet and the " Pot Of Gold Remixes " following the collapse of Pinnacle Independent Distribution - an event that caused serious problems for many independent artists . Featuring remixes by ,amongst others, Mr Scruff and DJ Vadim this is a really good album in it's own right .

In 2010 Alice collaborated with David Byrne and Fatboy Slim on "Men Will Do Anything " from the
" Here Lies Love " album.

2013 saw Alice release possible her finest album to date....the simply brilliant " To Dust " via Differ-ant/Tru Thoughts . This is an ESSENTIAL listen for all lovers of SOUL music . More stripped-down in Production Alice sounds better than ever on this collection of great songs .
Here's link to the full album as my gift to you :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ4D273C7Ac

and the video for " To Dust "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKqmdyER5bU

Alice Russell...GREAT British SOUL star....enjoy her wonderful voice and great songs !

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

Joe Goddard

Dear friends,believer,non-believers and sceptics...you are all welcome here in the Church Of The Poisoned Mind ( copyright Culture Club ) .

This blog is called " Music For The Soul " because it is about all music that moves The Soul Guru's Soul....not just SOUL music . I've been disappointed with the lack of good new SOUL music I've heard recently apart for a couple of albums on Rob Louis' excellent Tru Thoughts label which I will write about later and of course Rag 'n' Bone Man's brilliant and hugely successful " Humans " album .

However that's not to say that there hasn't been any new music I've heard recently of course......
  I've been a huge fan of Joe Goddard's music since I heard Hot Chip and the The 2 Bears who are one of my favourite artists/DJs and when I heard his brilliant Essential Mix on Saturday on Radio 1 for Pete Tong ( who he ? ;-) ) I just knew I had to write about his music . Here it is :

http://stoneyroads.com/2017/03/hot-chips-joe-goddard-delivers-stellar-essential-mix


His new album " Electric Lines " is available on 21st April but the first 2 tracks are on Youtube now.....here's the sublime " Music Is The Answer " a typical piece of cool electronic dance music...truly a master at work ! It's his first solo album sine " Harvest Festival " from 2009 apparently .

In 2011 Joe released his best track ever I believe...the astonishing " Gabriel " featuring Valentina....GOD I LOVE this tune !

Here's  The 2 Bears from their outstanding " The Night Is Young " album which is HIGHLY recommended !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiAPXiplhlw

Joe has recently featured on Michael Mayer's album " & " ...." For You " is already a club classic and an  EP of mixes by DJ Klose ( whose recent DJ Kicks akbum is excellent ) is now available on Sp0tify ,i-tunes,beatport etc.....here'a KOse's " Mbira Mix "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUEWtg2lCcY

Michael Mayer's " & " album is on Spotify etc and well worth a listen

Joe Goddard is a great,original talent,creating outstanding electronic  music with Hot Chip since 2004's  "Coming On Strong " through til 2015's " Why Make Sense "
The 2 Bears are equally brilliant,from 2012's " Be Strong " through til 2015' wonderful " Bears In Space "

Joe Goddard is a GIANT of British electronic dance music and I can't wait for April 21'st when I'll be able to hear " Electric Lines "

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

Lewis Taylor...a GREAT British Soul Artist

Good morning my dear believers,non-believers and simply don't knows....it's been way too long since I posted so I apologise as I know just how much you look forward to The Soul Guru's wisdom .

I cannot start without saying how thrilled I am to see Rg 'n' Bone Man get the recognition he deserves for the brilliant " Human " album . His first album,the free download " Wolves " was my Album Of The Year here back in 2014.....I always could spot great original British SOUL talent way ahead of most people .
Here's " Lay My Body Down " from " Wolves "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI1-E6Bm-70&list=PL_MyZJz846m04ISE6AergnSj-RZGzIDqQ

Today I'm going back 21 years to 1996 when I first heard an artist on Island Records called Lewis Taylor when his debut album " Lewis Taylor " was released......I'd never heard of him but was instantly blown away by this incredible talent with a voice like Heaven.....and truly great original songs....an extended version of this brilliant album was released last year....Lewis Taylor ( Expanded Version ) featuring a whole new side of tracks including 3 Kruder & Dorfmeister remixes of " Lucky " which are fantastic .
This album is available on Spotify,i-tunes etc

After 2000's excellent Lewis II - well worth a listen....in 2003 and 2004 Lewis reached his creative peak with the " Stoned,Part 1 " and " Stoned Part II " albums .Reminiscent in style and feel of Marvin Gaye's " Here My Dear " album these two beautiful SOUL albums were inspired by the breakdown of a relationship .....GREAT SOUL MUSIC is often inspired by great personal pain and the pain is laid bare across these albums....they should be in all music lover's collections ,they are certainly both in my Top 50 albums of all time and sound every bit as vital now as they did 13 and 14 years ago .....
( WARNING...I don't recommend you listen if you recently had your heart broken ! )

In January 2004 Lewis released the " The Lost Album " "  on his own  Slow Reality label ....originally intended as the follow up to " Lewis Taylor " it was rejected by Island ....rumour has it that Lewis recorded as a reaction to him being labelled " a new British blue-eyed Soulster " and cites Fleetwood Mac and The Beach Boys as influences ....I think it's a really interesting album.

In 2005 Lewis released " Limited Edition 2004 " on Slow Reality....another very good album and the last release I can find was 2006's " In Session 2005 " which features live versions of 6 songs from " Stoned Part 1 " all exquisitely performed with Lewis's vocal as pure and SOULFUL as ever .

Since then....nothing
Lewis Taylor simply disappeared as an artist and apparently tried to wipe away all references to his career...he did a good job as I can't find any videos anywhere.
However his beautiful SOUL music lives on and is available for you to enjoy and buy on Spotify and i-tunes

I urge you to check it out....it will make your life better I promise !

The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

Common's new album " Black America Again " RAP ROYALTY

I've been a huge fan of Lonnie Rashid Lynn,JNR aka Common ever since I heard his debut album " Can I Borrow A Dollar " in 1992.....24 years ago brothers and sisters !
My personal favourite is 2005's " Be " featuring " The Corner " with seminal " Last Poets ".....rap GENIUS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mnKNr2Tiq8

and " They say " featuring Kanye West and John Legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_OmxdXkdNM

I followed his career ,including the brilliant Oscar-winning " Glory " from the movie Selma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o

 but wasn't sure if he would make another great album......little did I know, as his new album  " Black America Today " may just be his very best ....from the opening " Joy And Peace " featuring the MIGHTY Bilal this album is utterly brilliant .
Classic Conscious lyrics featuring some of SOUL's very best including Stevie Wonder and more Bilal....brilliant production....pure HIP-HOP
" Home " featuring Bilal once again represents all I LOVE about SOUL music and RAP...it's glorious...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-TQc9-3U_Y

Listen to Black America Today NOW.......
The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

The Fedz...The most significant British Black Music Collective since Soul II Soul

 I write this blog because I LOVE music ...especially all types of  British Black Music,Electronic ,Drum & Bass and Hip-Hop ( aka Rap/Grime ;-) )  ( I loathe EDM and all that crap ) .

 In my long and illustrious career I was fortunate enough to sign Loose Ends,Soul II Soul,Maxi Priest,Leftfield,Grooverider and more unique innovative acts who shared a simple common denominator...they made great original music that changed the perception of British music all over the world .

I signed Soul II Soul 28 years ago ....it seems like yesterday....and in the intervening years I haven't heard another artist/band or collective who come close to having the same impact musically and culturally ....until 6 weeks ago when my great friend  Garfield Hackett sent me a video by The Fedz to their debut track " What's My Name "....I was blown away 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-e9O4ti0Swsh Black Music

Since then I've heard 6 more tracks and been to the studio to meet the man behind the project  the LEGENDARY Dennis Bovell ,and one of his co-collaborators ,the mysteriously named Q .

For those of you youngsters unfamiliar with Dennis's  history he was bass player in iconic British reggae band Matumbi and was a long-time collaborator with the great Linton Kwesi Johnson...my personal favourite album of his is his incredible collaboration with Steve Mason " Ghosts Outside "

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9j7cUnkka8

The Fedz are simply brilliant...a true collaboration,a collective meeting of incredibly talented musicians dedicated to creating outstanding music.....I'm lucky as I've heard the music...suffice to say that it's the best British Black Music I've heard since Soul II Soul....and I've never said that before 

The collective have an amazing vocalist..Karmie ( forgive me if I got the spelling wrong Karmie ) whose voice is unbelievable...effortlessly soaring with clear and precise diction .

The songs are brilliant ...real songs with real melodies ,great lyrics and choruses.....wait til you hear " Imagine " 

Mista Jam and Clara Ampho are on the new track " Best I Ever Had " and it was featured on Steve Lamacq's " Round Table " show on 6 music yesterday

The Fedz gonna be HUGE.....get onboard now !

New music from Frank Ocean,Mac Miller and Danny Brown

Apologies  to all you believers,non-believers and don't knows....The Soul Guru has been listening to a lot of new music but  I haven't felt inspired to write about a lot of it as the majority of what I heard was just mediocre rubbish .
 However there exceptions...but not always for the right reasons.....
Once I heard Frank Ocean's brilliant first releases in 2011 ,Novocane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMfPJT4XjAI

and Swim Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmN9rZW0HGo

then his phenomenal debut album " Channel Orange ", in 2012 I believed he could be a worthy contemporary successor to Marvin Gaye due to his intensely honest and personal lyrics .
In August this year Frank Ocean released his second studio album " Blonde " . I was so excited....bought it the day it came out and settled down to listen to more great music .
To begin with I was confused by the album but thought if I stuck with it more would be revealed ....after a month of listening I came to the conclusion that far from being a work of genius it was pretentious self-important rubbish.....just like Terence Tent D'Arby's dreadful second album " Neither Fish Nor Fowl " .
He obviously didn't have a label or A&R guy strong enough to tell him the truth about the album .
Blonde is a MAJOR disappointment

I love it when folk introduce me to new music ...especially when either of my sons - Jamie and Callum- play me something I really like .
I was staying with Jamie a couple of weeks ago and he said " Dad have you heard Mac Miller's new album " The Divine Feminine " ? I'd heard tracks from his 2015 album " GO:OD AM " ...100 Grandkids being especially memorable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDCoM1x7U38

The Divine Feminine is a great listen,a collection of excellent  contemporary songs featuring Anderson.Paak on the brilliant " Dang " ! A classic dancefloor filler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR3GQfryp9M

and " We " featuring Cee-Lo-Green

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL--KSNxfy8

The Divine Feminine is HIGHLY recommended

Last but certainly by no means least is Danny Brown whose terrific new album Atrocity Exhibition is truly outstanding
His last 2 albums , XXX from 2011 and Old from 2013 earned Danny a lot of critical acclaim but in my opinion Atrocity Exhibition has put him the Premier League of MCs...tracks like " Really Doe " featuring the ubiquitous Kendrick Lamar , Ab-Soul and Earl Sweatshirt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spfsdpuvUyQ

and Pneumonia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-Dc3_eiV8

demonstrate an artist who has developed over time and is now at the peak of his powers....once again HIGHLY recommended

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

New music from Massive Attack & George The Poet.....Oh Joy Oh Bliss !

Good morning friends,fiends,believers,non-believers and don't knows......I am an extremely happy Soul Guru as there is some truly outstanding new music for me to share with you and enjoy...
Initially from a collective whose music has been a constant in my life since 1991's seminal " Blue Lines " album...the MIGHTY Massive Attack and secondly from a young artist who I've written about before...a unique talent....George The Poet

Massive Attack...the name says it all....3D,Daddy G,Mushroom and a galaxy of supreme guest vocalists...Horace Andy, Shara Nelson,Tracey Thorn and Elizabeth Fraser from The Cocteau Twins ,Mos Def to name a few..have been making great music for 25 years and show no sign of stopping thankfully .
This year's " Ritual Spirit " EP featuring Tricky,Young Fathers and Roots Manuva  was their first new music for ages ( released initially via the Fantom app ) and showed that Massive Attack remain a force to be reckoned with ....
Last Friday I awoke to 2 new Massive Attack tracks...." The Spoils " featuring Mazzy Star vocalist Hope Sendoval  and " Come Near Me " featuring one of my favourite British artists...Ghostpoet
The video,Directed by Ed Morris, is superb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY0TZQTwwbk

Massive Attack are true greats of British music, I still listen to all their albums and they sound as fresh as ever and continue to make challenging intelligent music for us,we're privileged to have them improve our lives .....they are brilliant live too !

From true LEGENDS of British music to a new star....George The Poet
I've been writing about George since his debut release " The Chicken And The Egg " EP in 2014 which  tells the story of premature parenthood and insecurity and remains on my stereogram
In the intervening 2 years a lot has happened for George The Poet....

True story...2 weeks ago I drove my son Callum to Newcastle and he was DJing...he played George The Poet and it sounded SO good......" I wonder when we will hear new music from him " I said as it had been over a year since " Search Party "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akq2dJ9N5Do

Well now we know....last monthe George posted this brilliant explanation of why he chose to leave his label Island Records " No Man Is An Island " ...eloquent,articulate,intelligently expressed it's everything I admire about George The Poet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wCL91n9bE

Then 3 weeks ago Chase & Status released " Spoken Word " featuring George The Poet.. it's SO brilliant and pointed the way forward

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wCL91n9bE

Last week George The Poet's " What Do You Reckon " was made available on Spotify on his own George Mpanga label...it's everything I LOVE about his music....intelligent,articulate, humorous but now with a wicked two-step beat.....listen now !

This has been a great week for new music
The Soul Guru loves YOU x

Blood Orange " Freetown Sound " .......today's featured album

From now on I am going to try to blog about new music I'm really impressed by as often as possible....I'd like more to people to read my posts so I'm going to have a go at promoting The Soul Guru on social media .

Blood Orange's new album " Freetown Sound " is another excellent album that I'm enjoying a lot .
Blood Orange is Dev Hynes latest project following his recordings as Lightspeed Champion and Freetown Sound   is Blood Orange's 3rd album....and unquestionably their best so far following " Coastal Grooves " in 2011 and " Cupid Deluxe " in 2013
Dev was named the " 49th Coolest Person In Rock " by the NME in 2007

" Best Of You " featuring Empress of Lyrics was the first track to be made available on Spotify etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1giWnKWIDo

The awesome " Augustine " already has over 800,000 Youtube views and is one of my favourite tracks of the year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtzcViZPGA

check the album out on Spotify...it's well worth it

The Soul Guru
x

Michael Kiwanuka's " Love & Hate " is a truly GREAT Soul album

Michael Kiwanuka's new album " Love & Hate ",released on Communion Records, is a truly great SOUL album.....in my opinion one of the best British Soul albums ever

Michael was raised in that well-known SOUL hotbed Muswell Hill ;-)  and won the BBC's Sound Of 2012 poll

I was a bit disappointed by his debut album " Home Again " released in early 2012...to me it sounded like he needed more time to work on his songs

" Love & Hate " ,released 2 weeks ago,shows that he's spent the intervening 3 years working on his songs....the album is a fabulous collection of great songs ....the lyrics and production are as good as anything I've heard this year ..." Love & Hate " is definitely my album of the year so far .

He's been compared to Otis Redding,Bill Withers,Terry Callier and more but  he reminds me of my idol Marvin Gaye more than anyone .....that's not something I say lightly .

The title track is beautiful.......an 8 minute SOUL opus ,Michael's voice is fantastic as is the production....I wish I'd signed him !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMZ4QL0orw0

" Black Man In A White World " is so relevant today given the state of things in the USA at present....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TYlcVNI2AM

That's what real SOUL music has always done...from Marvin to Gamble & Huff and Gil Scott Heron ..it addresses real issues ...before hip-hop SOUL was the music of social protest......thank you Michael Kiwanuka for bring it back and making SOUL music important again........

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

The GENIUS that is Maxwell

Friends,fiends,believers,non-believers and don't knows this week's blog features one of the greatest contemporary SOUL artists who has just released his first album for SEVEN long years.....Gerald Maxwell Rivera...aka Maxwell

Listening to his new album blackSUMMERS'night ,the follow-up to 2009's BLACKsummersnight , the second album of a trilogy , makes me glad to be a SOUL man as it encapsulates all I've loved about SOUL music since Marvin changed my life with " What's Going On " .

I've been a huge fan since Maxwell's seminal debut album " Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite " released back in 1996 . At the time I was A&R Director of Columbia ( the label not the country ;-) ) in the UK so saw him perform at numerous Sony conferences and  in front of a real audiences too - as opposed to Sony executives who must have been the worst audience for any artist to play too .

I've been fortunate to see most of the great SOUL artists live...Marvin at The Albert Hall 1974...Stevie Wonder at his peak many times...Prince - possibly the greatest live performer ever -James Brown ....Maxwell is right up there as a live performer...I was astonished when I saw him for the first time in New York at a Columbia Records showcase ,he was amazing ....I met him afterwards and he was such a lovely guy ,modest but so confident in his talent ,quite rightly .

I've always been drawn to the more enigmatic artists.....Marvin,Curtis Mayfield,Prince,Erykah Badu,to name but a few,and Maxwell is worthy of their company

blackSUMMERS'night features the first single " Lake By The Ocean "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsSu0bRZEHM

It's brilliant....and listening to it it's clear who Frank Ocean's inspiration is !

It's a joy that after a 7 year break Maxwell has returned with a great album,he sounds better than ever,the songs and production are outstanding....do yourself and stream or buy blackSUMMERS'night asap...it will make your life better

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

This week's blog features new music from DJ Shadow , River Tiber and Fred V & Grafix ....ENJOY !

Bon Jour mes amis ...ca va  ? ca va bien merci.....The Soul Guru is still en vacances in Juan Les Pins as you can tell . Over the past 2 weeks my schoolboy French has improved a great deal..long-forgotten words suddenly spring to mind and I can just about make myself understood when I'm speaking French....unfortunately I don't have a clue what's being said to me !

So this week I was thrilled to hear DJ Shadow's new album  " The Mountain Will Fall " ,his first album of original material since " The Less You Know,The Better " from 2011 .
I've been a huge fan since his seminal debut album " Entroducing " released on James Lavelle's legendary " Mo' Wax " label 20 ( yes TWENTY ) years ago .
" Entroducing " was an album comprised of almost entirely sampled material and is a landmark in instrumental hip-hop....if you don't know it I recommend you listen as  it still sounds great .
" The Mountain Will Fall " was only released yesterday so I'm still getting to know it...it's on my headphones as I write this ...but I already love " Nobody Speak " featuring the magnificent Run The Jewels and " The Sideshow " featuring Ernie Fresh

Here's a link to Shadow and Run The Jewels performing " Nobody Speak " on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon .

As with all Shadow's work the album has a menacing feel to it...lots of slow,dark,HEAVY beats give some of the tracks a post-Apocalyptic vibe which I love .

I'm looking forward to immersing myself in " The Mountain Will Fall " over the coming weeks as I know more will be revealed ....RECOMMENDED

Next up is Toronto's River Tiber whose excellent new album " Indigo " was also released yesterday . I must confess I don't know a lot about him ,in fact he first came to my attention as a featured artist on Kaytranada's new album .
" Indigo " is his first album as far as I can tell though he has released a couple of EPs previously...his most well-known track is " West " featuring Daniel Caesar ,here's a link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYl7J31rrg

It's a good example of the mellow electronica that typifies River Tiber's album....I really like it,it's perfect cool laid-back summer music

Finally The Soul Guru has always LOVED a bit of drum & bass and Fred V & Grafix new album " Oxygen " is a great addition to Hospital Records catalogue of uplifting d&b  . Fred V & Grafix come from Devon apparently( ! ) and they released their first album  " Recognise " in 2014 .
Here's a link to " Ultraviolet " from " Oxygen....it already has nearly 250,000 views !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDa-D19hN0

My favourite track is " Like The Sun " ,link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mg3zTe3M3s

Talking of liking the sun it's time for me to climb aboard my trusty sunbed and listen to music....a bien tots touts les monde

The Soul Guru loves YOU x

New music ... Kaytranada,Fhin and Cassius from my sunbed in France

Good morning disciples,believers,non-believers and don't knows ...or rather Bon Jour as The Soul Guru is currently en vacances in Juan Les Pins on the glorious Cote D'Azur ....

Today's post features some exceptional new music as usual.....

Let's start with one of today's hottest Producers - KAYTRANADA- and his new album 99.9% . Kaytranada is a Haitian-born electronic musician/producer who has been making excellent music since 2010,initially as Kaytradamus, and since 2013 as Kaytranada.....extremely prolific as well as talented 99.9% is his first album as an artist on XL Recordings...the label that can do no wrong at present .
Featuring a who's who of collaborators...Anderson Paak,AlunaGeorge,Craig David ( who is brilliant on " Got It Good " ), and Little Dragon amongst others ...99.9% is a great collection of contemporary electronic music .

Here's a link to " Bus Ride " featuring Karriem Riggins and River Tiber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AWipr9KHY4

and here's a link to my favourite track " Glowed Up " featuring Anderson Paak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWesK-nWts&list=RDyaWesK-nWts#t=0

IF THE LINKS DON'T WORK GO TO YOUTUBE AND YOU WILL FIND THE VIDEOS BY SEARCHING KAYTRANADA.....

99.9% is the perfect album for Summer 2016 !

Next up is an artist who I hadn't heard of until last week......Fhin whose EP " A Crack In The Eyes " has just been released . I don't know anything about him...I think he's French...but his modern melodic and minimalist electronic music is beautiful.......here's a link to " Your Heart Sounds Like " from the EP which is a great introduction to his music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbBYE5IgPPE

and my favourite track " But Now A Warm Feel Is Running "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9y22-aoNCg

Enjoy !

Finally I'm really excited because the Mighty Cassius have a new album " Ibifornia " due in August . Cassius are Phillippe Zdar and Boom Bass ...a French House /Dance /Alternative duo who have been making music The Soul Guru loves since 1999 and just get better and better .
Ibifornia features collaborations with Cat Pwer and Pharrell Williams ,Cat Power and Mike D and Ryan Tedder ......here's a link to " Go Up" featuring Cat Power and Pharrell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEo2AtKl9RI

and here'a " Action " featuring Cat power and Mike D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA0z0b7tNLg

Cassius's " I Love Techno " compilation from 2011 is still frequently on my stereogram as is Skream's remix of " I Love You So " ....here's a link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVgGte6vlic

That's all for now...a bien tot as they say here ....enjoy the music...you can follow me on Twitter @TheSoulGuru...on Instagram The Soul Guru and Facebook......

The Soul Guru Loves YOU and in this troubled world please spread LOVE

x

Robert Glasper/ Miles Davis ..Samm Henshaw,Age of L.U.N.A....The Soul Guru's first Spotify playlist

Good morning disciples ,sceptics,non-believers and " I don't knows "...once again it's been a while since I last posted ....
This blog is called " Music For The Soul " and this week features some outstanding SOUL music along with jazz and rap...

Without a doubt the album I am most looking forward to is the  Robert Glasper's re-working of  some of the legendary Miles Davis' tracks.....so far the track " Maiysha " featuring Erykah Badu is available to listen to on Spotify...and Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bstfOqQhW48

The album " Everything Is Beautiful " is available tomorrow and features some of Miles' most well-known pieces re-interpreted by Robert Glasper and a host of Soul,Hip-Hop and Jazz greats.....highlights include " Ghetto Walkin' " with Miles ,Robert Glasper and Bilal...it's superb ...." Violtes " featuring Phonte , " They Can't Hold Me Down " featuring Illa J........all available to listen to on Spotify now

If you're not familiar with Robert Glasper's work his " Black radio " album is a CLASSIC


I've a huge fan of samm Henshaw for sometime now....he's a great talent....a British SOUL man of the highest quality.....his latest release " Our Love " is one of my favourite tracks of the year.....a great song, great vocals and an authentic 70's SOUL feel...in fact I'm sure fans of Northern Soul will appreciate the four-on-the-floor beat and exuberance.....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5-8dffKBoY

Next up is another young UK band who I've written about before....Age Of L.U.N.A....managed by my old friend Kwame Kwaten they are a supremely gifted UK collective whose music combines SOUL and Hip-Hop to great effect...their new single " Sweetness " is available to stream now on Spotify...I love it...it reminds me of The Ohio Players ..

Finally the most important news of the year....The Soul Guru created his first Spotify playlist yesterday.....it's amazing of course....it's available to hear on Spotify at The Soul Guru,on Twitter @TheSoulGuru and on Facebook on my timeline..please follow me on Spotify if you like it....I'm sure you will

The Soul Guru loves YOU

xx