August Review Round-Up

Read below for a round-up of soul music releases this August.

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Under My Skin – Gabrielle

After an eleven year hiatus, British soul songstress Gabrielle has returned with her latest album, Under My Skin. Received warmly by the public – the album debuted at an impressive #7 on the UK album charts – Under My Skin smacks of early noughties nostalgia. Gabrielle has a clear ear for hooks, with plenty of toe-tapping melodies throughout the album. However, it is overbearingly heavy on the platitudes. After such a hiatus, one hopes she would have something more precise to say than ‘Don’t give up / And don’t let go’ (‘Show Me’), or ‘Don’t feel afraid / Be self assured every step that you take’ (‘Every Step’). The album’s plethora of love songs have a similar banal lyricism. Moreover, neither the production (synthetic and drab) nor Gabrielle’s vocals (rather vacant throughout) are able to enliven the material. ‘Thank You’, a retro soul/pop number with a Motown-esque step and groove, provides a flash of colour in a selection which is largely beige.

Unstoppable – Candi Staton

Best known in Europe for disco classic ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ and her 1980s hit ‘You Got The Love’, Candi Staton (now 78) is in fact a gospel singer by origin. As part of the Jewell Gospel Trio, she toured the gospel circuit in the 1950s alongside Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, and Reverend C.L Franklin and his daughter, the late Aretha Franklin. Though perhaps not a release that will demand repeated listens, Staton’s latest album, Unstoppable, draws upon her southern soul influences. There is a slightly political streak with covers of Patti Smith’s ‘People Have The Power’, Brinsley Schwartz’ ‘(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding’, and Staton’s original, ‘Revolution of Change’. Though occasionally stretched by the material, her worn but ‘lived in’ voice offers a percipience to the odd cliché. The strength of the album, however, lies in the band. They enliven Staton’s solid if unspectacular writing. In particular, ‘It’s All Over’ has brassy bursts and nifty guitar. As per the album’s title, Staton asserts her steadfast resolve throughout. And with fair success.

‘Make Up Your Mind’ – Kyla Jade

The Nashville-based gospel/soul singer finished third place on the 14th season of NBC’s The Voice (US), having previously worked as Jennifer Hudson’s backing vocalist. The Voice is often full to the brim with powerful black female vocalists who sadly, often due to lack of post-show support, struggle to make their way into the studio. Jade’s newest release, ‘Make Up Your Mind’, has a post-disco Vandross-esque groove. Though just over two-and-a-half minutes long, Jade is able to show off her vocal chops. Fortunately, she doesn’t let the studio iron out her gospel-flecked tone. The last thirty seconds, where Jade riffs and wails, gives extra force to the song’s lyrics about a dithering lover: ‘I won’t be forever… better make up your mind’.

‘Keep On’ – Jackie Venson

Technically released on 31st July, this delicate, guitar-driven ditty by Austin-based singer-songwriter Jackie Venson missed our last roundup. There is a Tracy Chapman/Joan Armatrading folkiness to the melody, but Venson, known for experimenting with electronic sounds, brings in fresh, contemporary production. Singing with bouncy staccato about the need to persevere (in refreshingly non-saccharine terms), Venson provides bona fide ear-worm material. The guitar solo gives a further depth.