Symphonical Vinilo y CD

Review: Symphonical's The Key To Our Love series has proven exceedingly popular with soul lovers and this third volume shows there is still plenty of mileage in it yet. As always there is an in-depth exploration of black and brown American artists here who are the foundations of the sound. Most of those featured will be obscure to many - but not for long, as their music makes a lasting impression. There is the vulnerable lo-fi sound of Laurene Lavallis's 'Love Don't Change,' Delbert & The Stewart Sensation's sentimental swooner 'How Far Can Our Love Go?' and Carrie Riley & The Fascinations offer up some lovely harmonies on 'Living In A Lonesome House Without You' amongst many other standouts.

Review: A year after the first superb volume, The Key To Our Love Vol.2 again dedicates itself to the sweetest soul sounds of black and brown musicians from days gone by. The label say that each release is put together in direct collaboration with the creators, which is also important practice. And so to the sounds - they come from the late 60s onwards and were all put out on private press indie labels so have remained rather obscure. There is heart-aching material like Andre & Zero Plus's 'Sparkle In A Woman's Eye' with its sumptuous strings and vocal harmonies and more sentimental lullabies like Fred Moss's 'I'll Always Love You.' Perfection.

Review: Carrie Riley & The Fascinations are one of those mythologised outfits who released only one single, but who really nailed that one single. The year of origin is unknown but now the Symphonical Records label that is dedicated to reviving and releasing unissued cuts from often forgotten artists of colour now puts it back on the map. 'Super Cool' is indeed ice cold. The sultry trumpets and low slung bass roll deep and the heart aching vocal is soul perfection. On the flip is the delightfully tender and vulnerable 'Living In A Lonesome House Without You' with its soft vocals and softer grooves.

Review: Originally released on the Soulful Thangs Vol. 7 compact disks for Latin Soul Recordings in 2007, the song 'It's So Hard To Say So Long' by the Equasions took on a life of its own. A timeless soul and funk single recorded in San Antonio in 1971, revered by sweet soul collectors internationally, has now become available for the first time in over 50 years through Symphonical Records. In partnership with band leader and songwriter, Robert Williams, this group also features high school classmates Vernon Shannon, James Hartfield, Ricky Cotton, and Lamar Sumter. 'It's So Hard To Say So Long', is a poignant sentiment to lost love, yet hope created through beautiful harmonies, whereas 'World Of Loneliness' is a psychedelic reflection of society of the era, which Robert mentions remains true today. Big shout out to Symphonical for putting out this very desirable 7"

Review: It's back to 1969 for this one from Little Caesar And The Euterpeans, a record which has been sold not so long ago for well over two grand on second-hand markets. 'This mysterious outfit relates on three 45rpms but sure did find a sweet spot when they got in the studio. 'It Was Love' is lo-fi soul with yearning vocals matched by yearning horns and powered by prickly stick work. There is a more high-speed funk feel to 'Big Ole Good Thing' with its racing bass and expressive sax leads.