Browns Bag

Earlier this year Brown’s Bag’s “Labor Of Love” was one of the most talked about modern soul sets – and rightly so. It was thoroughly modern in its approach but in Ward Brown they had a vocalist who remembered what old school soul sensitivities were all about. He proved he knew that soul is all about commitment, life experience and real passion – and the good news is that there’s an abundance of all those sensitivities on this new 12 tracker, released on one of the UK’s most dynamic new Indie labels, Soulchoonz Records. As you can see, the LP’s called “Soul Satisfied” and from the very first cut, you know that yours will be. That opener’s called “You Touch My Heart” and it’s a just-above-mid-tempo ballad with a hint of the classic “What You Won’t Do For Love.” The melody is a delight and Ward’s sensuous baritone makes the most of it. “You Love Me” and “You’re Contagious” offer more of the same while “Me Around” offers variety with its almost Latin flavour and some tasty brass work and if you want a tight little beater, try “Toss N Turn" . Best cut of the lot though is a shimmering real old school ballad called “Rain” – and its not just the title or the rain effects that remind us of the Dramatics, it’s the overall soulful feel. Those of you who dared think that real soul was a thing of the past should, grab a listen to this pronto. As a bonus the LP comes complete with two remixes from the “Labor Of Love” set. There's “Diskonauts Mix” of “No More Love” and a “Markydisko Jazzy Mix” of “Things You Say”. The former rides a rolling bass line that James Jameson would have been proud of, while the latter really does have the jazzy changes implicit in its new sub-titling. Both add spice to what will go down as one of the year’s best Indie soul sets.
- Bill Buckley - Blues and Soul Magazine
5 out of 5 Rating