New faces

I don't just listen to crackly old soul music you know. Sometimes I listen to crackly NEW soul music too. My favourite new soul (or NuSoul or NeoSoul or whatever the hell they call it these days) album of last year was the debut of Stephanie McKay but despite the glowing review I gave it on my website the damn thing still hasn't been released in America. Why does no one listen to me? Maybe I should start a letter-writing campaign or a petition or chain myself to the railings outside Sony Music HQ or whoever is responsible. Produced by Geoff Barrow of Portishead, it's like soul and hip-hop mixed together in a bowl of treacle; full of chunky beats, crackly samples and strong bluesy vocals from Bronx-born Ms. McKay (who's a lot more enjoyable to listen to than Beth "Funky" Gibbon). "Sadder Day" is a slow and moody ballad that gives you the flavour (or should that be flava?) of the album and you can hear the whole thing at her website. The import price is a steep $30 (bugger me) but you can pick it up cheaper around the internet. Of course, if you live in the UK you can just pop down your local record emporium and pick it up for a few quid.

[Download]
Sadder Day - McKay