Marley Monroe AKA. Lady Blackbird has deservedly attracted the attention of the jazz press and several key tastemakers with her brand of haunting jazz-soul. She trailed her acclaimed album Black Acid Soul (2021) with her stunning reinventions of The Krystal Generation’s ‘Wanted Dead or Alive‘ and Nina Simone’s ‘Blackbird’. She repurposes other deep soul cuts on the album including Tim Hardin’s ‘It’ll Never Happen Again’, Reuben Bell & The Casanovas’ ‘It’s Not That Easy’, and Irma Thomas’ ‘Ruler of My Heart’ (written by Allen Toussaint). Chris Seefried’s production is eerily sparse, with arrangements reliant largely on piano and double bass. Lady Blackbird’s deeply evocative voice is front-and-centre, exhibiting her gifts as a searing torch balladeer. Her instrument is filled with captivating textures and colours; though different, comparisons to Amy Winehouse are not unjustified. The original material here is strong too, in particular ‘Five Feet Tall’ which drips with anguish.