A small soulful blog entry inspired by Ural Thomas and The Pain. I have lot of interest in soul music even though I rarely feature it on these pages, because I don’t have the time or the knowledge to dig deeper into it. My knowledge of new soul music is pretty much just checking every week that whether my trusted go-to labels Colemine Records and Daptone Records have released something new.
Ural Thomas & The Pain is on neither of those labels, but the making of those weekly playlist led me into the comforting arms of their album The Right Time that came out on Tender Loving Empire on the 28th of September. Ural Thomas is a Portland soul legend that has performed with James Brown, Otis Redding, and Stevie Wonder. Ural released a live album and some singles in the sixties and seventies, but this new album is still, in many respects, his debut full-length. What a remarkable album it is. It’s beautiful, smooth and moves your body and your soul. Here’s a couple of great ones for a taste, but you should listen/buy whole lovely album.
Next up is the latest from the vaults of Colemine Records. Ben Pirani’s album How Do I Talk To My Brother? came out on the 21st of September and it’s another magical soul gem. Ben Pirani has created some deep, beautiful and captivating soul songs. Absolutely love the vocals and the harmonies on this one and it’s so easy to get lost in these warm and mesmerizing sounds. Maybe even so that a song like Dreamin’s For Free hit me extra hard when I started paying attention to the words. The contrast between the sweetest of sounds and the heaviest of thoughts. It’s a good way to get the message through.
One from the Daptone family as well. This album Love In The Wind by The Sha La Das is a real family effort too. Bill Schalda and his three sons singing together in perfect harmony. This sweet soul and doo wop combination will keep the summer in your heart even during these dark fall nights. This is my early favorite Just For A Minute.
Last but definitely not least, one slightly older song from Black Pumas. This song Black Moon Rising has been on that best of 2018 playlist since its release in March 2018, but I don’t think I have shared it on the blog. Black Pumas are a psychedelic soul group formed by Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada and this is debut single is out on Karma Chief/Colemine Records. I can’t wait to hear the full-length album.