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STREAM: R. Kelly - Feelin' Single
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So, here's the scoop on this one: R. Kelly, our protagonist, goes to the club. He runs into an ex-girlfriend. He does not find this to be a favorable situation. He then does what Kellz does when backed into a corner. He goes out and finds someone new! With disco underpinnings and a light weekend vibe, Kelly is mining the late-'70s this time around and it's quite fantastic.
DOWNLOAD: Quantic & Alice Russell - Here Again
I feel like Will "Quantic" Holland and Alice Russell have a special soulful thing going. With deep grooves that would make Quincy proud, Latin-tinged punctuations and arrangements from Combo Bárbaro that'll remind you how fantastic bridges can be, "Here Again" has a timeless element that's hard to resist. Hear more on Look Around The Corner, which is out now on Tru Thoughts.
PREMIERE: White Denim - Get Back To Love (Street Joy)
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(Photo: Michael Hammett and Bobby Weiss)
Uh, for all the screaming psychedelic, jam-out, 'we know how to play our instruments super well' moments that White Denim creates, "Get Back To Love (Street Joy)" is a welcome smooth-as-hell revelation. It's like they left all the theatrics behind and just decided to go for a '60s barbershop soul vibe – some beautiful music to fall in love (or do other requisite love-oriented things) to.
DOWNLOAD: Dear Prudence - China Doll
For those who are compelled by Adele and Florence And The Machine, Brighton, U.K. group Dear Prudence will be a welcome discovery. The group, led by Madi Poncia, will release a new single, “Valentine,” on May 7 via Carousel Records. Non-single track “China Doll” offers an inkling of the soulful, wistful pop-rock to come – a showcase of Poncia’s impassioned howl.
STREAM: Diane Birch - Speak A Little Louder
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Diane Birch is the rare singer-songwriter with enough soul and style to break through the monotony. For her follow-up to 2009's Bible Belt, she's hooked-up with a variety of producers like Eg White (Adele), ?uestlove and Homer Steinweiss of the Dap Kings. Those production influences shine through on this vintage-chill first single "Speak A Little Louder."
Stream: Diane Birch - Speak A Little Louder [Idolator]
DOWNLOAD: Chantal Claret - Bite Your Tongue
Chantal Claret was previously the frontwoman for New York rock band Morningwood, but now she's gone solo and will be releasing her debut solo EP, The Pleasure Seeker, in May with a full-length to follow in June on The End Records. “Bite Your Tongue,” a track from the EP, is a soulful, bluesy pop number that should be a hit with fans of singers like Adele and Lily Allen.
DOWNLOAD: Bobby Womack - Please Forgive My Heart
Gotta love a great comeback story, and it looks like that's what's on the way as soul icon Bobby Womack will drop his first album since 2000 on XL June 12. Entitled The Bravest Man In The Universe and produced by Blur/Gorillaz leader Damon Albarn and XL honcho Richard Russell (who also guided Gil Scott-Heron's fantastic swansong I'm New Here), the first single "Please Forgive My Heart" is a spacious blues that oozes soul and emotion.
STREAM: D'Angelo - Left & Right (James Blake Harmonimix)
D'Angelo, where have thou gone? I'd guess one of those old English bros from the Victorian era would have penned such a sentence if an artist of D'Angelo's caliber suddenly just disappeared for over a decade with no music to his name. Well, the world turns and now it appears that our man is back playing shows and previewing new material for eventual release in 2012. Yes! And what better way to modernize than with a James Blake remix. Spacy, tribal, intense, soulful, weird and welcome.
