Album review: Curtis Harding, Soul Power

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26 Nov, 2014 08:00 PM2 mins to read

Curtis Harding.

At first, opening track Next Time suggests Soul Power has a fairly conventional modern soul approach, but then the rock elements creep up, the rougher, grittier production, the wild organ solo, and Curtis Harding's nuanced vocals filter through, and you realise this album is a little more left-field. Harding's not afraid to give retro a different spin.

Early single Keep On Shining is finger-snapping, upbeat RnB, but the production and arrangement creates a tougher edge. It's driving, impassioned, and feels less like a homage to music of the past than an unfettered modern approach, blending rock and soul effortlessly.

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The clarinet riff on Freedom; the rollicking guitars on Surf mixed with an unusual vocal scale and fluffy percussion; Jack White-like attitude on I Don't Wanna Go Home; the heart-grabbing pummelling bass and drums, mesmeric psychedelic flourishes, lonesome trumpet, and yearning vocals of The Drive; they're all adventurous elements that add spark to Harding's obvious talent and energy.

He likes to keep his songs short - they're all under four minutes bar one, but packs a lot in, whether he's adding touches of disco (Heaven's On The Other Side) or swamp rock (Drive My Car), or showing off impressive falsetto (I Need A Friend). His approach is more in line with Jack White, Prince, and Hendrix than other modern soul proponents, but he's undoubtedly a rising star.