Carlton Jumel Smith: 1634 Lexington Avenue (LP)

On his album, Carlton Jumel Smith explores different shades of the golden era of soul music, and you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone doing it as fresh in 2019. After causing a stir in global soul circles with his debut single 'I Can't Love You No More' and its follow-up 'This Is What Love Looks Like', Carlton Jumel Smith is back with an album full of contemporary soul gold. The material united here is nothing but the vintage grooves of the classic 1970s that he effortlessly concocts with Cold Diamond & Mink crew. Carlton's songwriting and expression carry strong echoes of Curtom productions, Memphis soul and of course Motown. We're talking musical traditions that he's been incorporating into his expression since he saw James Brown at the Apollo as an 8 year old.