Tag: Soul

Record Store Day 2022 — Drop 1

BeatCaffeine’s Record Store Day 2022 ‘Drop 1’ Recommendations

This Saturday, April 23rd is the first of two Record Store Day’s in 2022. This now bi-annual event has become the prime day in which many labels release limited-edition or never-before-released vinyl albums, singles, compilations and reissues. While the day usually attracts many hardcore collectors, shops also often see a large influx of casual music fans and possibly a smaller number that might be buying their first record. Regardless, these are all great things.

Brief Encounter — Human

UK’s Pressure Makes Diamonds reissues Brief Encounter’s 1977 obscure two-step groover ‘Human’

Over the last few years, UK’s Pressure Makes Diamonds, which is a label run by Graham Luckhurst and Gary Johnson, has reissued some of the most obscure soul and funk singles you’ll come across on Discogs. The label continues their string of impressive releases with quite possibly their most welcomed reissue to date, in Brief Encounter’s mid-seventies obscure two-step “holy grail” 7inch Human.

BeatCaffeine's Favorite Tracks of 2021

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Tracks of 2021

As we wind down the final days of 2021 and look ahead to 2022 (with so many questions regarding what the future or this virus has in store), here is one more “look back” at the past twelve months — exploring some of the best individual tracks that helped us all get through this (still very much) challenging year. Happy New Year everyone, and more importantly, stay healthy and safe!

SAULT — NINE

UK’s SAULT releases fifth album ‘NINE’, available for 99 days

Over the last two-plus years, UK’s SAULT has been the most innovative collective in all of music, releasing four groundbreaking full length albums including last year’s highly acclaimed UNTITLED (Black Is) and follow-up UNTITLED (Rise) (BeatCaffeine’s #1 and #3 Favorite Albums of 2020), which centered around subjects of police brutality and racial injustices. The thought-provoking group, which features producer Dean “Inflo” Wynton Josiah, vocalist Cleo Sol, rapper/vocalist Melisa Young (aka Kid Sister) and numerous other guests and collaborators, returns with another brilliant recording, titled NINE, which according to the band, will only be available to download or stream digital for 99 days from it’s release date of June 25, 2021.

Kenny Mann with Liquid Pleasure

Mad About Records reissues 1980 modern soul “Holy Grail” album from Kenny Mann with Liquid Pleasure

After a number of years of re-releasing some of the best and most obscure recordings, you can basically guarantee that if Portugal’s Mad About Records is putting something out, it’s going to be absolutely incredible. That string of essential releases continues with their recent reissue of the 1980 modern soul full-length gem from vocalist and keyboardist Kenny Mann and his group Liquid Pleasure.