Finland continues to produce some brilliant music at the moment and none better than the Finnish chart topping single, ‘If This Ain’t Love (I Don’t Know What Is)’. So dancingly good it not only topped the Radio Helsinki playlists but got into a wide range of DJ boxes over here like Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson, Ninja Tune’s Strictly Kev and Helen Mayhew (Radio 2, ex-Jazz FM). It’s about time we got our hands on this one and it’s three and a half minutes of pure joy. Far too good to get into UK National Charts but you’d like to think it could.

You’d be forgiven for overlooking this album when it first came out as it clashed with the Motown Monday promotion series just before Christmas but now is an ideal time to get a replacement soul-fix. There’s some great tunes to match Detroit’s finest such as, the clap-clap ‘My Four Leaf Clover’ and ‘A Perfect Kind Of Love’ which will save hours diggin’ through dusty 45s.

The title track, ‘Keep Reachin’ Up’ has some huge horns that give the other experts in re-incarnated 60s and 70s soul, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings a run for their funky breaks.

The early 70s ‘Blues Downtown’ gets a bit wah-wah whilst ‘Freelin’ Free’ is really made by the appearance of big sound of the Pekka Kuusisto String Orchestra. They also appear on a huge tune on the album, the soul-blues of ‘No One’s Gonna Love You’ with great organ work by Antti Määttänen; which he then surpasses on ‘Holdin’ On’!

Anyone who remembers Nicole’s ‘All The Time’ from 2000 (also Jimi Tenor produced) will know she’s got a nu-soul voice. Trust me, the old-soul version of today is even better. This release also gets Hectic love for the ‘classic’ look of the album cover. The album ends on an instrumental jam ‘Soul Investigators Theme’ which could have done with some brass and I’m not so keen on ‘Invisible Man’ with its shoo-doop chorus, but that’s a minor gripe as there’s loads to enjoy in addition to ‘If This Ain’t Love’.

We’ve covered quite a few Finnish bands of late and Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators are the hottest at the moment. Nicole’s careers started in London in 1984 so she’ll be sure to be well up for the forthcoming gig at London’s Cargo as April’s Glenfiddich Independent Mix night along with the soultronicificated beats of J*DaVeY with Rich Medina acting as host and DJs for the night Karen P and Chris Wheeler (The Heritage Orchestra) and Mal Fogarty (see links below).

Reviewed: Nicole Willis And Soul Investigators, The - Keep Reachin’ Up (Timmion Records) Cat. No. TIMMION LP-002 Release date: 15 Nov 2005 (Finland)
Tracklisting:
1. Feeling Free (3:37)
2. If This Ain’t Love (I Don’t Know What Is) (3:28)
3. Keep Reachin’ Up (3:24)
4. Blues Downtown (5:13)
5. My Four Leaf Clover (2:53)
6. A Perfect Kind Of Love (4:01)
7. Invisible Man (2:59)
8. Holdin’ On (3:37)
9. No One’s Gonne Love You (6:06)
10. Soul Investigators Theme (2:42)
11. Untitled (1:40)

Links:
www.nicolewillis.com
www.timmion.com “No.1 Soul Pick” [with sound clips] http://www.timmion.com/records/trlp_002.aspx
www.myspace.com/jdavey
www.richmedina.com
www-cargo-london.com : £6 b4 9 or adv, £8 after, LIVE: NICOLE WILLIS + J DAVEY, HOST/DJ: RICH MEDINA, DJS: KAREN P + MAL FOGARTY Please note: Cargo only sells advance tickets over the web. Entry can only be obtained in person after the doors open on a specific event.
www.theheritageorchestra.comwww.keepup.co.uk Keep Up! Easter Shindig, Angel, London: Super Special Guest: Strictly Kev (DJ Food/Ninja Tune)
Gilles Peterson Tracklisting 22/1/06 Box Of Delights (1) Nicole Willis - ‘Feelin Free’ (Accapella) (Timmion) Gilles Peterson Tracklisting 15/1/06 Box Of Delights (9) Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - ‘Feeling Free’ (Timmion) : 20/11/05 Box of Delights (5) Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators – ‘If This Ain’t Love’ (Timmion)