Luxury Soul 2025
It has become sort of a now really precious tradition: at each start of a new year, indie soul will get a top-notch representation via the three-CD “Luxury Soul” compilation on Expansion Records, thanks again to Ralph Tee. If you use our “Search” tool and put in “Luxury Soul”, you will get all of our reviews from 2015 (omg it’s been 10 years now) up until 2024.
The new comp starts off with a track from the new Cornell CC Carter album “Expressions Of Soul”, which will have a separate review soon. It more or less sets the pace here for absolutely fine, quality soul. 35 tracks in total, with many many highlights. The Don Blackman-penned “I Love You” is among them. Natalie Duncan smoothly glides through this Bluey-produced, jazzy piece. And Will Downing is always a good bet. He still sounds amazing on the solid and soothing “The Power Of Love” featuring Randy Bowland. It is one of his best recordings to date I think. You still remember Loose Ends? One of its members, the great Steve Nichol, is featured here with singer Debby Bracknell on a groovy “What The Heart Wants”. There are more cherished 80s acts here: Rose Royce singer Gwen Dickey is in superb form on the bubbling “Water”, culled from her “This Is Gwen Dickey” EP. We also get a track from the most recent Jeff Lorber album. “I Love My Life With You” features Brian McKnight and it is the perfect fusion of contemporary jazz and soul with a nice solo from Jeff. As always, there is a lot to discover, like the percussive “Soul Night” by Georgie B & The Groove Association or a new r&b-ish track by Kim Tibbs (“It’s Alright”). We’ve already praised the Natasha Watts album here and also have Jarrod Lawson‘s “Next Move” in our Best of 2024 list. We also like the Expansion Records artist Victor Haynes and his satisfying “Let The Lovin’ Start”. We get a preview of the next Hil St. Soul album as well.
And that was only CD 1. On the second disc, we get a George Duke cover and a Jones Girls one, too. Patrice Isley is featured with a rollicking version of “I Want You For Myself” and award winning singer Castella does “Nights Over Egypt” with guest flutist Ragan Whiteside. Nice one! One of our highlights is the very 80s-sounding “Let’s Not Say Goodnight” by Julian Jonah, one of UK’s 80s soul house heroes. It features the beautiful vocals of Robbie Love. There are a few mediocre tracks her as well, but with a total of 35 cuts, this is still another must-have compilation. Really like the sweet and laid-back horns-induced Steven Thad tune “Smile”. There is a nice party feeling with the always dependable Angela Johnson on “I Wanna Be Loved By You”.
Curtis Mayfield gets revisited on “Back Against The Wall” by Kelyn & Keite. And 🏆-nominated pianist, songwriter, producer and arranger Matt Cusson has come up with another highlight here: on “She Don’t Mind”, he is supported by Yulia Musayelyan on an addictive midtempo swayer. Beautiful! We also dig the sweet and cool ballad “All I Want Is You” from the new album “Optimism” by Michael Gray. This track features Lex Cameron. Another winner. You can’t do wrong with Maysa who is once again featured here in this series. This time with Stokley, Jeff Lorber, and Shaun LaBelle on “Your Love Kept Calling My Name”. And Howard Hewett still sounds great on a new, exclusive track by Kloud 9 called “Falling In Love”. I have to admit that I haven’t heard from neo soul producer Benjamin Race before, but that’s one of this compilation’s fortes. “No To Heartbreak” with Ricky Hanley actually sounds like a Heatwave/Rod Temperton/Quincy Jones tune from the 80s. From the Netherlands, the group Tristan previews their 8th album, to be released in early April. On “Will You Ever Stay”, their singer Irma Derby fascinates on a lengthy, jazz-inflected piece. I’m absolutely delighted to hear new music from two of my favorite late 70s/early 80s singers: Peggi Blu and Rockie Robbins both sound amazing on the Gospel-tinged “My Love” (a Paul McCartney & Wings tune from 1973) which also features Gerald Albright on sax.