Review
Billie Ray Martin: The Soul Tapes (Sonnenstahl Records)
9
6.2
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UK release date 10.04.2016
Acclaimed singer / songwriter and House music pioneer Billie Ray Martin (Electribe 101) drops the pulsating rhythms of dance music and delivers a passion project of pure Soul and Rhythm & Blues with her new album aptly titled "The Soul Tapes".
Written together with NYC's award winning producer Jon Tiven, Billie has written an album largely inspired by the sounds of musical home of Al Green, Ann Peebles and Willie Mitchell, Hi Records, through to classic 60's garage and there's even a twang of country thrown in.
From this amazing voice comes some superb new material including Billie's story-telling jangly song of a Las Vegas slot machine addict seemingly meeting her Rhinestone Cowboy on "Strongheaded Woman", which also hails as the first single.
Other highlights include the somber tones of "Glittering Gutter", with it's heartbreaking vocal speaking of the demise of Hamburg's Red Light District and the very raw and powerful "Skin On The Wheel Of Time" and more.
Billie also belts out some fantastic surprise covers including Rolling Stones "That's How Strong My Love Is" and the Ann Peebles classic "One Way Street". From start to finish "The Soul Tapes" is testament to not only how Billie Ray Martin continues to shine as a truly unique vocal talent, but also an ever evolving talented songwriter, this album's got SOUL!
Words TWINKLE
