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Bearing in mind, the original Keep Reachin’ Up was 2006 top-rated album of the year, there’s the “if it ain’t broke” school of thought that might start alarm bells to ring.

No need to worry as that well-known northern Northern Soul fan, Mr. Scruff is on the case and even with the ‘virtual’ needle stuck on the hook, ‘If This Ain’t Love’ keeps its appeal (also out on a 12” with the instrumental).

In the land of breaks, Rob Life is the man and his ‘Keep Reachin’ Up’ is one for all Breakin’ Bread fans.

Not surprisingly, Lack Of Afro got the call (told you he was hot, see his album out this week Press On) and a real grower is, Ghost’s dreamy adaptation of ‘The Soul Investigator’s Theme’ with those gorgeous vibes. Mike Slott also reworks this one into a more minimal way.

Aaron ‘Mr. Soulblender’ Jerome (fresh from his r
emix for Fania!) has done a suitable superb job on ‘Feeling Free’ but I must admit, my favourite is the reggae rework of ‘My 4 Leaf Clover’ (previously released on a hot 7” which sold out very fast).

Then again, it’s very hard to have one favourite out of this collection. Our most favoured Canadian jazz trio, Elizabeth Shepherd get jazzdanced up for another version of ‘If This Ain’t Love’ and wait ‘till you get mesmerised by the dubbed out soul of Blackbeard’s ‘No One’s Gonna Love You’. Is this the first time we’ve seen Blackbeard since the Low Budget Soul Remix?

And then there’s Simbad, last seen a couple of weeks ago in Universal Sound before the Brownswood Birthday Party at The End, who also goes dubby but this time is a broken spaced out way. Talkin’ of broken and not seen for a while, check Afronauts spaced out drum lesson of ‘Holding On’.

So how did they miss out? Natural Self, Nostalgia 77 or even Color Climax spring to mind but you’d be hard pressed to complain with the quality that is here. Could we have a remix album as Album Of The Year? I don’t see why not.

Reviewed: Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators — Keep Reachin’ Up Remixed (Above the Clouds Recordings) Cat No. ATC012CD Release Date: 29th October 2007
Tracklist
1. Soul Investigator’s Theme (Ghost Remix)
2. Feeling Free (Aaron Jerome Remix)
3. If This Ain’t Love (Mr Scruff Remix)
4. A Perfect Kind of Love (Lack of Afro Remix)
5. Holding On (Afronaut Remix Remix)
6. My 4 Leaf Clover (The Dynamics Remix)
7. No One’s Gonna Love You (Blackbeard Remix)
8. Invisible Man (Simbad Remix)
9. If This Ain’t Love (Elizabeth Shepherd Trio Remix)
10. Keep Reachin’ Up (Rob Life Remix)
11. Soul Investigator’s Theme (Mike Slott of Heralds of Change Remix)

Links:
www.myspace.com/nicolewillisandthesoulinvestigators
www.nicolewillis.com
www.abovethecloudsrecordings.com
www.myspace.com/abovethecloudsrecordings