LADY WRAY Vinilo y CD

Review: Lady Wray's Piece of Me is a second sizzling album of superb soul. It marked something of a homecoming for the artist as she debuted on this label back in 2016 and found her leaning towards her usual soul and r&b as well as more hip-hop influences than ever: classic boom-bap drums and chunky bass hist loud and proud and for that reason the originals are ripe for remixing as they are here. Two legends of the game in Pete Rock and Ghostface Killah step up and bring their own signature sound and dusty drum beats to make for a crucial little 7".

Review: Lady Wray is one of the brightest talents in the field of neo-soul, and now she's back with her second album. There's something ultimately classic about her sound on this new record, tapping into the deep heritage of US soul as you might expect to hear from Gloria Ann Taylor or Minnie Ripperton, with bombastc songwriting and a gutsy, 70s-indebted production that sounds like honey in your ears. Throw in a tough boom-bap slant on the drums - not least on 'Games People Play' - which should have old-skool hip-hoppers nodding with approval, and you've got a new essential from the ever-strong Big Crown stable.

Review: Lady Wray is one of the brightest talents in the field of neo-soul, and now she's back with her second album. There's something ultimately classic about her sound on this new record, tapping into the deep heritage of US soul as you might expect to hear from Gloria Ann Taylor or Minnie Ripperton, with bombastc songwriting and a gutsy, 70s-indebted production that sounds like honey in your ears. Throw in a tough boom-bap slant on the drums - not least on 'Games People Play' - which should have old-skool hip-hoppers nodding with approval, and you've got a new essential from the ever-strong Big Crown stable

Review: Five years after her last album on the Big Crown label, Lady Wray is soon to serve up a follow up in the form of Piece of Me. That arrives in January next year and is proceeded by this taster 7" featuring two singles from it. They showcase Wray's take on classic soul: her vocals do plenty of heavy lifting, and the instrumental funk all around her is steeped in the classic traditions, but it all comes with an extra raw edge, an urgency and crispness that brings it right up to date. 'Through It All' is a confessional that is powered by tight drums, where 'Under The Sun' is a more blissed out vibe.

Review: Nicole "Lady" Wray has reinvented herself in recent years, swapping the contemporary, radio-friendly '90s R&B of her youth for a sound heavily influenced by vintage, 1960s and '70s soul and funk. It's a blend that was explored on last year's superb Queen Alone full-length. The two tracks showcased on this 7" were both featured on that album. "Underneath My Feet" is particularly potent, with Wray offering a rasping, impassioned vocal that seems to soar above the triple-time backing track. "Guilty", with its sweet guitars, harmony backing vocals and rock solid funk breakbeat, sounds a little like some of Sharon Jones' more poignant moments.

Review: There are a whole host of soul talents on display on this new and limited edition 7" from Big Crown. Lady Wray, Les Imprimes & Surprise Chef all combine their forces for the gorgeously lo-fi and authentic soul single that is 'Come On In.' It has heart-aching vocals and a slow, heavy beat that is raw as you like. It is presented first as a Les Imprimes remix that makes a devastating emotional impact, and then as a Surprise Chef remix which is a little less heavy and more upbeat, with prickly drums and uplifting energy.