2005 is the year of Alice Russell. She sang on almost all songs on Bah Samba’s 4 double album, was featured on the Quantic Soul Orchestra’s album Pushin On and now releases her sophomore album under her own name. While Alice Russell’s debut album Under The Munka Moon was more a compilation of session works with a few new cuts added, her second album My favourite Letters is much more of a piece. This time Alex Cowan aka TM Juke produced the whole album and co-wrote the songs together with Alice.
The result is a unique sound that incorporates influences of hip hop, (northern) soul, jazz, broken beat, electronica, gospel and funk and that’s graced by Alice powerhouse voice.
Humankind, the first single, is an unusual song that merges hip hop, funk and tango influences. It surely needs a few listenings to get into and I’m not sure if it’s a wise move to release the rather eccentric Humankind as first single. The slow, blues tinged To Know This or the soulful ballad I’m Just Here would’ve been a much better choice in my opinion.
Anyway, the label will have enough other good songs to chose from as future single releases. There’s the Motown inspired High Up On The Hook (with a beautiful vibes solo by Guy Wood) or the odd titled Mirror Mirror On The Wolf - ‘Tell The Story Right’. The latter is an impressive soul song with strong gospel influences and organic orchestration of guitar, rhodes, piano, flutes, clarinets, oboes and cor anglaise.
Other highlights include the electro funk inspired What We Want!, A Fly In The Hand and the handclapping funky Mean To Me.
As with Alice’s debut Under The Munka Moon this album may not appeal to everyone with its fusion of musical styles and some songs here does need a few listenings to get into. But you will be rewarded with a multifaceted and worthwhile album from one of the UK’s best vocalists.

Tracklisting of My Favourite Letters: 1. All Else Can Wait/ 2. What We Want!/ 3. Humankind/ 4. Mean To Me/ 5. A Fly In The Hand/ 6. To Know This/ 7. I’m Just Here/ 8. Munkaroo/ 9. All Over Now/ 10. High Up On The Hook/ 11. Mirror Mirror On The Wolf – Tell The Story Right/ 12. Remember To Forget | released September 26, 2005 Tru Thoughts

For more infos visit tru-thoughts.co.uk, alicerussell.co.uk, tmjuke.co.uk and grooveattack.com.

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