Little Ann "Deep Shadows"

Soul fans will be familiar with Little Ann’s superlative output from her singles and compilation tracks on Kent; Deep Shadows is the Detroit soul goddess’s proposed late 60s album. It’s a remarkable collection of finger-snappin’ grooves, smoky r&b and moody deep soul.

Keen Kent collectors could easily grumble about owning the 9 tracks on this limited edition vinyl already; however, it is a great artefact from the Timmion stable and, you know, sweet to have a Little Ann album in itself.

To anyone hitherto oblivious to Little Ann’s musical marvels, Deep Shadows is an absolutely essential buy. I envy you discovering this magic.

Lawrence interviews Girls

Girls -- powered by http://www.magicrpm.com

Lawrence interviewed Christopher Owens and Chet Jr White of Girls, whose excellent album (or “Album” as it’s titled) reveals that Felt are a major influence (Curls wouldn’t sound out of place on Me And A Monkey On The Moon, for example, while Lust For Life would sit very comfortably next to the early Cherry Red singles).

The interview is fascinating, revealing as much about Felt as it does about Girls. The blurb on the host site says it’s the first episode, so hopefully they’ll be uploading more footage soon.

Dunedin Hall Of Fame gig

NZ legends The Bats, David Kilgour and The Puddle played a gig in Dunedin recently with newcomers Haunted Love (if The Human League had lived in a bedsit, had an acoustic guitar and were on Factory...). Some footage of the event is above, but a professionally filmed “virtual show” featuring two songs from each band will be released next month – further details can be found here.

Lost Soul: The Mandells

The Mandells nailed the sweet soul Chicago sound just as good as any of their more celebrated peers - Tyrone Davis, Barbara Acklin and The Dells to name just three worthy success stories - but never got the airplay to expose their undeniable gift for harmonic group soul with tugging funk undertones to a wide audience.

None of their fine legacy of ten singles has been officially reissued. If the people at Kent have got some time on their hands, a Mandells compilation would be one of the finest assets they could add to their catalogue.

Start here with How To Love A Woman.

Fergus & Geronimo

Fergus & Geronimo, or Andrew Savage and Jason Kelly as they’re known to their parole officers mothers, raise the roof off garage rock with uptown soul drive and powerfully melodic psychedelia.

They have in three 45s this year done not just more than most bands ever accomplish but have done it with such gleeful abandon that even the surliest muso would be disarmed by their infectious charm and full-throttle attack.

This live performance of their Woodsist single Harder Than It’s Ever Been is the distillation of punk frenzy, r&b groove and pop perfection in 90 seconds. They are quite rightly fast becoming everybody’s new favourite band.

Thanks to the reliable Finest Kiss for steering me in the direction of this Texan duo.

...and the horse you rode in on

If Scotland Yard Gospel Choir's first album, I Bet You Say That To All The Boys, was too in debt to Tigermilk to take much of it seriously, and their second, self-titled album plodded on occasion when it should’ve skipped all the time, their current album, …and the horse you rode in on, is much closer to a consistent realisation of their multi-instrumental gifts and pop flair.

Something’s Happening, for example, has the drunken country reels, melodic bass and lovelorn lyrics that The Bats do so well. The title track balances an angry guitar riff and parping horns, and the closing ballad, Well I Wouldn’t, is drop-dead gorgeous.

At fifteen songs, this record is too long, but it’s easily abridged by missing the first three songs (1 – an indulgent children’s choir; 2 – ersatz Morrissey; 3 – Pulp could sue for copyright infringement). It’s no all-out classic after that – there’s an uninspired Britpop echo to some songs – but when they hit their stride, the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir are really on fire.

Gregory Webster and Would-Be-Goods and Birdie free gig

That's right. Gregory Webster AND The Would-Be-Goods play FREE on Sunday November 15 at the Hangover Lounge in the acoustic style. edit I'm delighted to announce that Birdie have just been added to the bill. It's their first gig in years, so it'll be a short but obviously great set. The fun (drinks, food, idle chit chat, soothing sounds from Chickfactor DJs) starts at 2pm with the bands on later in the afternoon.