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Various Artists – Soul Potential (Acid Jazz)

Various Artists - Soul Potential (Acid Jazz)
Various Artists – Soul Potential (Acid Jazz)
Note that I independently write and research everything in this article. But it may contain affiliate links.

This flew under the radar a bit a few weeks ago, so might be a good time to  evaluate the Soul Potential album on Acid Jazz.

It’s described as a showcase of ‘a fresh breed of soul artists’, although it’s more like a breakdown of the current soul-leaning acts on the Acid Jazz books right now/ 13 in total, modern-day acts across the soul, funk and jazz spectrum.

Overall, it’s not a bad collection either, although like all collections of this nature, we’re in the land of the mixed bag.

Men of North Country kick things off with Pandora, which really does set the tone, a funk/soul/jazz hybrid that sounds both old and new at the same time. Might not be the only time I use that description here. In fact, I’ll use it again right now for Girlfriend by The Filthy Six. Definitely cut from a similar cloth.

I do enjoy Andy Lewis’ work and his track with Jess Roberts, Turn Your Head Around, is a catchy slice of updated funky soul. Perfect for a summer’s day (which it happens to be here) is the lovely brass ‘n’ organ of Fahrenheit by The Dilemmas, while a similar set-up gets another outing (with a little more tempo) from Magnus Carlson, with From Now On.

Funk (in the traditional sense) is the name of the game for Sex Is On Fire by Jerk Juice. Yes, that Sex Is On Fire. Not that you’ll notice straight away. Talking of covers, there’s a rather tasty one of Terry Callier’s Ordinary Joe on here by Jasmine Kara. Another one for a sunny day in the garden.

One or two I’m not personally on. I still don’t really get all the talk about New Street Adventure. Hangin’ On Hangin’ Up is pleasant enough, but isn’t blowing me away. I could do without Third Degree’s take on the Kylie track Can’t Get You Out Of My Head – just doesn’t work for me. Likewise, the Night Trains’ No More Heroes. I know some people fell for its northern-like charms. I wasn’t one of them.

Talking of northern, Tony Christie goes down that path for Nobody In The World, which is better than you might think. File under ‘surprise’. Quite partial to the ‘slow’ on this album too, No Good by Charley Maccaulay. Great voice.

Like I said, a mixed bag, but a good showcase for what Acid Jazz has going on soul-wise right now. I’d say quite a lot.

Find out more at the Amazon website

Listen to the album on Spotify

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