Keep Reachin' Up

Nicole Willis, Nicole Willis&the Soul Investigators | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Light In The Attic Records
• ASIN: B000SAD8NS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,781 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Feeling Free

2. If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is)

3. Keep Reachin' Up

4. Blues Downtown

5. My Four Leaf Clover

6. A Perfect Kind of Love

7. Invisible Man

8. Holdin' On

9. No One's Gonna Love You

10. Soul Investigator's Theme

Editorial Reviews

2007 release of the passionate but suave Mod-Soul collaboration from the lovely and talented vocalist Nicole Willis and celebrated Finnish Funk collective The Soul Investigators. In the cold far North dance underground, they have created a uniquely hot record of romantic grooves! The Brooklyn-born Willis has worked with both Curtis Mayfield and the Brand New Heavies and done crucial work for Mo’ Wax, while the Finnish-bred Soul Investigators have crafted two previous full-lengths. Fans of Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings will find much to love on Keep Reachin’ Up. Adored by the UK’s Northern Soul DJs and fans, international momentum for the full-length has been primed by a BBC Top Ten Track of the Year list for 'If This Ain’t Love' and world famous DJ Gilles Peterson making opening track 'Feeling Free' the 2006 Worldwide Winner Song of the Year. MOJO and Record Collector gave the Finnish edition four stars and Dusty Groove called it an ''instant classic.'' Light In The Attic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars if this ain't soul (don't know what is), July 11, 2006

By 

Yiannis Psaroudis "divastation.com" (soho, ny) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep Reachin Up (Audio CD)

no, you have not stumbled upon a lost millie jackson or martha & the vandellas album...this is pure nicole willis at her finest. though she's long been grouped with other british vocalists-for-hire, such as shara nelson and carleen anderson, _keep reachin' up_ finds willis stretching her soul/funk wings and taking flight. if i'd not known, going into it, that this were a nicole willis album, i'd have been racking my brain trying to figure out which 70s funkstress to credit for this gem. while the music is 100% old-skool soul, her vocals recall everybody from dionne warwick to adeva, demonstrating the incredible emotional range willis brings to the table. willis howls ("keep reachin' up"), coos ("blues downtown") and wails ("no one's gonna love you") with the best of them, it's just too bad she doesn't get more props, on this side of the pond.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars refreshing, August 22, 2007

By 

FE (Toronto, Ont. Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep Reachin' Up (Audio CD)

This is a very enjoyable cd. New material with a great appreciation of motown and funk, with a euro groove. Will definitely put a smile on your face and a nod to your neck.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK broadening my horizonz here-fine album of nu-soul, July 6, 2009

By 

C. Katz "Chazzbo" (Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep Reachin' Up (Audio CD)

Yeah I know I have over a hundred jazz only reviews but really like this CD.If your into the neo-R&B/retro-soul revival Nicole Willis has a fine efort.A cross of of Motown and Atlantic with Brit twinge this is a really good album.If your into Budos Band or Sharon Jones and Dap Kings this one will light your wick.Not that Willis has a voice to equal the best of crossover pop (Erykah Badu or Angie Stone say) it's flexible and the band can remind of everything from funk to muscle shoals to aforementioned sources and newer hip hop grooves.It's a real melange and a fine LP.One hopes that they bring out more.

Peace

Chazz