Gizelle Smith - "S.T.A.Y. ft Eric Boss"

Get out your wallets and mark your calendars. The new 7" from Manchester-born vocalist Gizelle Smith comes out on Jalapeno Records this Friday, December 1st.

"Sweet Memories" is ostensibly the A-side as it's listed first, but technically this is a "double A-side release" so "S.T.A.Y." featuring Stones Throw alum Eric Boss has equal billing.

Smith first came to my attention via releases with German act The Mighty Mocambos released on the venerable Legere Recordings and that's apparently where Kenny Dope first picked up on her talent. Wax Poetics debuted the release yesterday and it landed in my inbox this morning. I have listened to "S.T.A.Y." a half-dozen times already and just finished playing it on Cellophane Radio, UMFM's new music program. If you didn't catch it then, do yourself a favour and listen to it now. It's a heartwarming scorcher.

Amber Navran - "He's Been Gone"

I missed it when it dropped last month, but Moonchild's Amber Navran dropped a solo EP called Speak Up, and it's an all-too-brief slice of neo-soul/jazz goodness.

Kaidi Tatham - "Hard Times"

NOT the Baby Huey cut, but still pretty darn funky, this is the lead-off track from Belfast organist Kaidi Tatham's EP of the same name due out December 1st on First Word Records.

Did not recognize Tatham's name but apparently he's provided musical contributions for artists including Amy Winehouse, Slum Village, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Leroy Burgess, Amp Fiddler, Macy Gray, King Britt, DJ Spinna, Mr Scruff and IG Culture.

Now THAT is a list.

The Tibbs - "Lies"

Dutch funk/soul band The Tibbs released their full-length record Takin' Over mid-2016 on RR fave Record Kicks and have likely been touring the heck out of it, leaving little time for the studio.
But this morning, in my inbox, "Lies" landed and the actual 45 will be dropping December 1st.

What a  showcase for Elsa Bekman this tune is - she gets breathy, she growls, she howls and she absolutely OWNS this performance. She may be backed by the solid musicians in the band, but when she sings "I've gotta do this by myself," it's in some way a statement about her role on this cut.

Deva Mahal - "Snakes"

Clearly tied into the  gospel origins of soul music, this biblical allegory of a torch song from NYC's Deva Mahal is a stunner. Great voice and an impassioned delivery. Plus, handclaps.

If you don't end up belting out the chorus of "look to the mountains" alongside Mahal, I question your commitment to living.