J-FUNK: J-Press

Hosting a Soul Music website, can, at times, be hugely rewarding, however on other occasions, it can be very disheartening. The latter times sometimes involve product being sent here, which really doesn't do a thing for my old ears, however, when I have to work with the likes of these two sets of guys, the work can be hugely rewarding.

You will, probably, be aware of the Soul Unsigned series featured at this site over the last few months. Soul Unsigned is the brainchild of, Solar Radio's very own deejay, Phil Driver. Phil has very selflessly helped many unsigned artists get their product to a format folks can buy, and with the least amount of self promotion anyone might expect. Phil just lets the artists take centre stage, and, as I have discovered via previous releases, the end product is of the highest standard. Soul Unsigned 1 was an excellent collection. Soul Unsigned 2 has taken the concept to a much improved level, which is something that can only bode well for any future releases. So what about the music on the new CD?

Nash Reed opens the proceedings with her dancer entitled 'Natural', which is a good way of describing the opener. Optimistic, easy, and really gets the toes tapping. There are 14 tracks on offer in total here. No fillers in the line-up, just varying degrees of superior quality Soul Music. The pick of any bunch is always a personal thing for every listener. In this old fool's case, I particularly liked the Maxi track 'Steppin Out', even better is the Sean Miranda, heavily harmonised 'Dig It', J-Funks (standout, and probably favourite song on the album) 'Break Thru' and the Calumet dancer 'Keep The Funk Alive' (these guys have been listening to the Players Association on their i-Pods! LOL). A very satisfying set, which I know Phil, and his associate Leigh Fry, are rightly very proud of. If ever there was a case of a label which deserved support from the 'ever diminishing financial pockets' of the discerning Soul fan, this is one well worth supporting. Highly recommended.

"Breakthru" is "The Song" on the new CD according to me, but overall good music.

This is the second of Phil Driver's Soul Unsigned compilation albums and it carries on where that excellent set left off. That's to say it's stuffed with quality, real modern soul drawn from all kinds of different sources. Here, there's soul from the States (of course), South Africa, Norway, Spain and France … why there's even a track from a Scouser! Said tune is 'Everybody Knows' from George McShane under his professional moniker, Judderbass. That name implies the track might be a shuddering, bass heavy thumper; it's not at all… it's actually a delightful mid-paced sweet soul groove featuring a floating vocal from Joanna Brown. The whole thing's more redolent of balmy Californian freeways than the mean streets of the Independent Republic of Liverpool. It's one of the album's highlights – but one amongst many. As good is the brisk opener – 'Natural' from Cape Town's Nash Reed. The lady offers a wonderful modern room dancer built around those familiar '80s retro groves that are so popular at present. There's more of the same on GLO's 'Don't Take Me For Granted', Unkle Funkie's 'Gonna Give It To You' and Maxi's 'Stepping Out'. However, before you start to think that the collection is just another exercise in recreating the past allow me to highlight the real variety within the 14 cuts. Sean Miranda's 'Dig It' is a lovely nu-soul confection that might satisfy Maxwell addicts; Londoner J-Funk (Justin Stephenson) offers a very understated and gentle 'Breakthru'; Destruments' 'Take A Closer Look' is loose and jazzy; while Brummie band, Muthafunk, achieve a wonderful, organic live feel on their 'True Love'. Followers of the funk will welcome Various Funkus's 'Get On The Beat' and Calumet's 'Keep The Funk Alive', while Kevin East's cover of 'When Are You Gonna' wouldn't be out of place in the more sophisticated of our dance clubs. All great stuff, but the compilation (like the Marriage Feast Of Cana) saves the very best to last. The set closes with the Frank Felix and the F.U. Express instrumental 'Club 44'. Featuring the indomitable Snake Davis' sax and some uncredited vibes, the cut seems to bring together the album's disparate flavours in one uplifting soul jam. If someone told you that this was an outtake from Drizabone's 'Conspiracy' album, you'd have no problem believing them. A great ending to a great album … for more details go to www.soulunsigned.com and don't forget Phil Driver's regular radio shows – monthly on Solar and weekly European shows; the Soul Unsigned site will point you to those.

What a comp this has turned out to be!

Totally excellent from start to finish
Top faves for me are

3. Unkle Funkle - Gonna give it to you
6. Sean Miranda - Dig it
7. J-Funk - Breakthru
And to finish of the cd with a philly sounding British outfit Frank Felix - Club 44
Highly recommended chaps & will be paying a lot of airtime to this cd as it deserves maximum exposure.

Soul Unsigned Volume 2 had its first official airplay on the Peter Young show on Solar Radio, where he played J-Funk and Frank Felix.

The strong heavy hitting albums are still coming at us, even this close to Christmas. J Funk (aka Justin Stephenson) is a totally fresh, new artist and brings to us a solid sense of authority and grandeur that belies his youth and relative immediacy onto the scene. J Funk understands that songs need to be driven by a melody and he not only knows this, but also understands about many more complex characteristics which owe more to the 1980s than today's clonking, heavy-beat driven R&B market. This soul stew has many musical ingredients and although very much his own man we know that there is a healthy respect and emulation towards the past (but still musically present) greats. I have to say that I for one am impressed. Looking a bit like Robbie Williams on the front cover, I was not totally prepared for the soulfulness that struck the ears with “Close”, complete with real instruments and a strong melody. With my ears well and truly pricked I was eager to launch into “'Cause Suddenly”, a heavier, more programmed effort but still very much in the quality soul bag; a great contrast too, and the slap bass filled “Playin'” sandwiches this stepper very nicely. By now I have to say i am hooked by the CD I love surprise releases like this, and also love CDs like this that we can put on and leave on. Don't touch that remote control! Oh, the warm Rhodes keyboards of the title song, “Breakthru” are great enough but his soulful vocals really merge well with this and for my money is a cream track amongst many classy numbers. Fans of a steppers groove and an 80s flavour to boot will, like me, thoroughly enjoy “For Our Night”, complete with dreamy Lonnie Liston Smith type keys, this is really the dogs dangly bits. I really love the melody that J-Funk uses on “Give It To Ya”. The piano, complete with echo and timbales is a prelude to a programmed beat, but as I said earlier, the soul and feeling – that most important ingredient – is not at all lost. I immediately hear the more than strong influence by Kem's “Find My Way” on “Believe It”. Like that song and you'll also like this. The jazzier, stripped down piano led “Hold U” relaxes the pace a lot and eases in to the final cut, a live (and very fresh) version of “Closer”. This is great soul music – and out of Europe yet again. America is really getting left behind isn't it? When the quality and quality is like this then who cares? They can keep their Jay-Z and all the rest of the rag-tag and bobtail. I'll keep with the real stuff, thanks.

This album first came to my attention 6 months ago and was featured here on this website and on my Soul Heaven show. I can't remember for the life of me how I discovered this album, suffice to say that when I listened to it first time round it exceeded my expectations. To be honest I wasn't sure what to expect before I listened to it but I remember being very impressed by it. This guy has talent. He is a young man originating from Melbourne in Australia and he recorded this album in his bedroom in North London (he must have some impressive recording equipment). The first track called "Believe It" has a Kem influence but is brilliant in it's own right and sets the flavour for the rest of the album. The album is mid-tempo and very laid back and it definitely has that very important ingredient of Soul with a capital S. He also has a very good voice and is quite clearly a very talented songwriter and I cannot help but think that all his hard work should be rewarded with worldwide recognition. This is a very classy and sophisticated album with well crafted tracks, truly the work of an artist with that attention to detail. It is refreshing to know that somebody of his age can come up with sophisticated music like this. Help J-Funk to "breakthru" by listening to his debut album on CD Baby and purchasing it today. This album is full of the feel good factor. Please click on the album sleeve to the left to listen and purchase.