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Her debut album McKay came out five years ago so this is a criminally long wait for a follow up for this extremely talented R&B/Soul singer who hails from the Bronx, NYC.

McKay was a collaboration with Portishead’s Geoff Barrow (aka Fuzzface) and this girl has collaborated with loads of stars: Kelis; Talib Kweli; Roy Hargrove and Amp Fidler (she almost stole the show when she was on backing vocals for Amp a few years ago at the Cheltenham Festival on a ‘Gilles Peterson’ night). Gilles has remained a fan and he played the first single from the album, ‘Jackson Avenue’ in his recent ‘All Winners’ show.

This album is based around classic soul, seventies funk-rock and old-school hip hop and if you like Amp (who co-produced the album), Sharon King and the Dap-tone this is one for you.

The album ends on a bit of an odd one, the only track not written by McKay, a cover of Willy Mason’s ‘Oxygen’. I must admit seeing Mr. Mason perform this live when he released it as a single (it was all over MTV at the time) was quite emotional and to be honest, this version hasn’t got the instant “wow” of, say, Robert Mitchell’s cover of Massive Attack’s, ‘Teardrop’. But stick with it and you’ll find it’s a bit of a grower.

You don’t have to come from East 158th Street to realise Ms May is a real star and all her work is thoroughly recommended.

Reviewed: Stephanie McKay - Tell It Like It Is (Muthas Of Invention) Release date: July 2008
Tracklisting
01. Tell It Like It Is (3:15)
02. Money (3:53)
03. Jackson Avenue (3:17)
04. This Letter (3:48)
05. Oh Yeah (3:29)
06. Sure Feels Good (4:02)
07. Say What You Feel (3:34)
08. Kinky (2:51)
09. Where Did Our Love Go? (3:53)
10. Little More Time (4:13)
11. Fiya (2:48)
12. Oxygen (3:43)

Links
www.stephaniemckay.com
www.myspace.com/stephaniemckay
www.muthasofinvention.com
www.myspace.com/muthasofinvention
Gilles Peterson :: 18th September 2008 :: All Winners
Carlos Niño ft. Lil Si - ‘The Replenish’ (Shaman Work)
Morgan Zarate ft Eska & Ghostface Killah - ‘Sticks & Stones’ (Applepips)
Q-Tip - ‘Getting Up’ (Motown)
Kid Cudi - ‘Cudi Get’ (Fool’s Gold)
Madlib Ft Stacey Epps - ‘Way That I Live’ (BBE)
Solange Knowles - ‘Champagne Chronic Nightcap’ (Geffen)
Part Time Heroes - ‘Stop, Fade and Blur’ (Wah Wah 45s)
Mayer Hawthorne - ‘When I Said Goodbye’ (Stones Throw)
Stephanie McKay - ‘Jackson Avenue’ (Muthas Of Invention)
GIGWISE, Tuesday 12/04/05 Willy Mason, Kid Carpet @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Review by Gerry Hectic