Again, this is an album that has been released last year…just like the Val Watson or For KJM albums reviewed recently. But good music is really timeless and somehow I’ve missed Alice Russell’s debut release on Tru Thoughts last year. You all know Alice Russell as the voice of Bah Samba and Alice has a life outside of Bah Samba with contributions to songs by Quantic, the Quantic Soul Orchestra or Natureboy. Under The Munka Moon comprises some of these collaborations with new material. The result is an exquisite selection of soul songs and lounge and jazz inspired grooves.
The album’s opener is worth the price for the album alone. Hurry On Now feat. TM Juke is a great piece of soul music with strings, saxophone and tight background vocals. Who ever said they don’t make records like they used to anymore? You can also download a video of this song here (Quicktime required; right click and choose “save link as”.)
Tired Little One is another highlight. This is of course a song from Bah Samba’s debut album but featured here in the acoustic version which has previously only been available on the 12″ release. Sometimes you just need a great voice and a guitar to give you goose pimples.
With Something That’s Real, Search The Heavens, Take Your Time, Change Your Mind and Sweet Calling you also get the tracks that featured Alice on the Quantic album Apricot Morning respectively The Quantic Soul Orchestra’s Stampede. Plus there’s a new song Alice did with Will Holland (aka Quantic), the funky Somebody’s Gonna Love You. A great uptempo song that starts with an acapella intro until a James Brown inspired groove kicks in that’s topped by a violin solo and listen to the handclaps taking over the groove and finishing the song with adlibs by Alice.
Another new song for Under The Munka Moon is Peace Resides, a fine piece of neo soul inspired music with vibes and a mesmerizing trumpet by Dan Friend. A further favourite here is the releaxed soul jazz groove of Sweet Is The Air, Alice’s contribution to Natureboy’s album Whoever You May Be.
Alice gives you everything that Joss Stone had promised with her first album, The Soul Sessions, but somehow failed to deliver with her sophomore set. If this world was a just world, Alice should have the same success. But I’m afraid, this world isn’t just at all. So spread the word and make sure that you don’t make the same mistake like me and that is miss this great album. But now you know about it, I’m sure you won’t.

Tracklisting of Under The Munka Moon: 1. Hurry On Now feat. TM Juke/ 2. Someday/ 3. Hard Times/ 4. Sweet Is The Air feat. Natureboy/ 5. Tired Little One (Acoustic Version)/ 6. Peace Resides/ 7. Taking Hold/ 8. Something That’s Real/ 9. Search The Heavens/ 10. Take Your Time, Change Your Mind/ 11. Sweet Calling/ 12. Somebody’s Gonna Love You feat. Quantic/ 13. Get Ready In The Morning (Song In The Bath) | released 2004 by Tru Thoughts

For more infos visit tru-thoughts.co.uk.

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