nicole willis and the soul investigators - delete my number

already spoken about my love of this act but i felt as a terrible fan as i hadn't noticed that they released a new single last year and a new album called "tortured soul" just recently. it was thanks to a random association that i wondered what was nicole willis was doing as it's been quite silent from them in a while. i really thought that because it's been quite a few years since the release of "keep reachin' up" that it was to be a one-off project and not carry on like sharon jones & the dap-kings. the wait had to with willis studying and the soul investigators changing some members and such but all that matter is that their back in business

this album has many highlights and the full length version of "it's all because of you", the b-side to lead single "tell me when (we can start this love thing again)" is brilliant. it somewhat brings to mind the epic that is "no one's gonna love you" from "keep reaching up" but less blues and a little more groove. "break free (shake a tail feather)" is attentiongrabbing to say to the least and if may quote nina simone, funkier than a mosquito's tweeter. something tells me that it's going to be next single and if isn't then it should really be so.

but it is "delete my number" that got me stuck in that zone of awe and it has to do with the mood and the quiet/loud dynamic that is worked for it. the album in general differentiates itself from it's the prior outting in that the role of the fuzzy guitars has been stronger in the sound. where there was clear blues influences has now gone into more blues rock and this is a perfect example of that. willis sings the verses to a backdrop of drums and to a choppy organ and after a few subtle strummed licks, guitars come romping in hard.

my favourite moment is on the last verse when the guitar is doing all sort of picks and it sounds like a train at times and middleastern at the next second. the organ is playing long notes along with the bassline and then you hear the horns coming in as the last chorus is a really bombastic ender. the most remarkable thing is that you expect willis to really belt it out at several points but it never happens. it's really constaint but it plays perfect to song as it gets to be one belting it out and willis becomes the one shining through.

buy here (soulseduction)