In
the absence of Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones (who has only just returned
with a Christmas album), 2015 was the time for Jones' backing singers Saun &
Starr to step forward and shine. Their Daptone debut Look Closer is a
beautifully put together R&B record (something we almost take for granted with
Daptone now) and, while neither Saundra Williams or Starr Duncan Lowe is a powerhouse performer in the vein of Bradley
or Jones (let's be honest, who is?), both are
great, versatile singers, capable of switching from sunshine-y to sweet to
sympathetic to sassy in seconds.
"Another Love Like Mine" is my current favourite cut: an anguished yet empowered
kiss-off of the kind Ann Peebles recorded for Hi Records. "Right now I
need to talk to you for a little bit, cuz I wanna let you know where I'm coming
from" runs the spoken word intro - by the end of the track's three and a half
minutes, no one's left in any doubt.
[If
you have any recommendations of similar Hot Shots, please send them my way -
other than a couple of albums to be revealed in my Top
Picks and perhaps the Ephemerals and Monophonics, that sweet soul music has been a little thin on the ground for me in 2015.]
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