SHONDA ENGLISH Vinilo y CD

Review: In the cosy hearth of a certain home, the Home Of The Good Groove, contemporary soul singer Shonda L. English aka. The Gospel Diva may once have been heard air-singing into the mirror. Now, however, the family firm have put her up with a real release - and boy is it tasty. English, a Boston native, sports a fantastic contralto, characterised by chesty register flips and an up-close character; the track 'There Wouldn't Be A Me' is a confident march forward, echoing UK street soul but coming with a little too much East Coast swing to qualify, though it would fit right into such a mix. B-sider 'Feels Good' aerates things through Rhodeses and snare flams, finding gratitude in the floatatious blessings that uplift the soul: strength, family and friends, peace of mind.