Los Yesterdays - Who Made You You/Louie Louie 7" (Penrose Records)(2023)

 

Another gem from Los Yesterdays. Who Made You You is has that classic old-school soul feel. Just beautiful. Take a listen. The B side is the rock'n'roll classic (by R. Berry) but imagine if it had originally been recorded as a soul song and you were driving down the boulevard on a Saturday night. Excellent. 

Pale Jay - In Your Corner/Bewilderment 7" (Karma Chief)(2024)

 

Great single from Pale Jay! Don't know much about this artist but the mood of the A side is just perfect. This is from 2024. Check it out here. The arrangement is great and the strings. Oh my, I need to check out more of this groove from Pale Jay!

Taitu Riddim Force meets Dub Creator - Dub Blessings/More Blessings 7" (Taitu Records)(2025)

Here are two dub version of "His Blessings" reviewed just below. Available on Bandcamp from Taitu Records. Dub Creator on the mix with Taitu Riddim Force (Mafia/Fluxy/Bubbler/Mikey Chung). Very good modern roots from Amanda at Taitu. More information on the Bandcamp page. These 45s are a must for any fan of serious roots music.
 

Rominal feat. Xana Romeo / Addis Pablo - His Blessings / Blessings Melodica 7" (Taitu)(2025 pressing)

From the Taitu Bandcamp page: "The ever-tough "Live In Love" riddim of Hugh Mundell and Augustus Pablo fame rides again with a vocal from the Romeo siblings, Melodica cut by Addis Pablo"  Mafia and Fluxy, Bubbler, and Mikey Chung on the riddim. From 2015(?)

Great release from Amanda at Taitu. Taitu releases prime roots music. You should get this. Check out Taitu Records on Bandcamp. 

Thee Sacred Souls - Running Away/Loves Comes Easy 7" (Penrose)(2023)

 

Thee Sacred Souls are world class in the new soul scene. Running Away is an uptempo song with sweet vocals on top. Love the sharp back-up vocals. The B side is a slow burn soul lament of the old school type. Great single. From 2023. Listen to Love Comes Easy is here

Fred/Instrumental Band - Love Can Last Forever/Love Can Last Forever 7" (Stylart Records)(2020)

 

Slow burn soul release on the Stylart label.  New soul music from Fred. Nice horn chart. B side is an instrumental version of the same song. Here is a taste of the vocal side. This is my first purchase of 45s from the Timmion label out of Helsinki, Finland. More to come!

Various - How Is The Air Up There? 80 Mod, Soul, RnB, and Freakbeat Nuggets from Down Under (RPM Records)(2018)(3 CD Box Set)

 

Wow..this is great! All the bands and songs are from New Zealand (NZ). While NZ was also enamored of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Pretty Things, The Kinks, and Manfred Mann all toured NZ in quick succession. As such, NZ bands from the 60s tend to be fuzzier, dirtier, and grungier than other music scenes. So, if you like 60s garage on the crunchy side, you will like this a lot. A must buy for anyone into 60s dirtier side!