With his unmistakable, rich signature sound that excites as well soothes the soul, it's no wonder that Gregory Porter is a SoulBounce favorite. His Blue Note debut album, Liquid Spirit, was among our musical highlights last year. So when he released More Liquid Spirit - Features + Remixes earlier this week, we knew it would be worth a listen. The five-track EP, which includes three collaborations and two remixes, features a showcase of talent from our friends across the pond.
The album begins with the emotional torch song, "Water Under Bridges," reworked as a lovely duet with the enchanting Laura Mvula. True Porter fans will catch his allusive nod to "Hey Laura" (another Spirit track) towards the song's end. While we’re already familiar with the amazing Ben l’Oncle Soul collaboration "Grandma's Hands" (thanks to their Alcaline concert performance earlier this year), it's no less satisfying to hear the Bill Withers classic included in the set. Accompanied by a spirited horn section, Blue Note label mate Jamie Cullum joins him for a soulful cover of The Animals' (by way of Nina Simone, of course) "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," a song that will also appear on Cullum's upcoming album Interlude.
The remixes make up the latter portion of the album. First up is French producer/DJ 20syl with a funkin' good remix of "Liquid Spirit." Although this isn’t the first remix of the title track that we’ve enjoyed, it certainly deserves its own shine. Fellow Frenchman Ludovic Navarre (aka St. Germain) closes out the album with his head-nodding jazz hop rework of "Musical Genocide."
If you're looking to expand your Gregory Porter catalogue (and why wouldn't you be?), More Liquid Spirit - Features + Remixes is a worthwhile addition. Download your copy today via iTunes.
