Charles Bradley spent a great deal of his time performing as Black Velvet – a James Brown tribute. He has lived an itinerant life – from Florida to Brooklyn via Vietnam and he’s known a deal of personal distress. He was rescued from the tribute scene by the tremendous people at Daptone Records who encouraged him to loosen and get creative, resulting in the 2011 release, ‘No Time For Dreaming’. The follow up is possibly even more vigorous and free. ‘Victim Of Love’ finds him expressing his soul from the deepest channels of pain, while the Daptone sound is enhanced with wiry, psychedelic textures. Astounding.
Prince – Delirious (Warner)
Palma Violets – We Found Love (Rough Trade)
Charles Bradley – Strictly Reserved For You (Daptone)
The Strokes – Tap Out (Rough Trade)
Desert Hearts – Powertrash (No Dancing)
Jim Jones Revue – 7 Times Around the Sun (PIAS)
Jerry Lee Lewis – Ramblin’ Rose (See For Miles)
British Sea Power – Spring Has Sprung (Rough Trade)
The Mike Carton Kids – Hope Of A Lifetime (Anti)
Fred Neil – I’ve Got A Secret (Rev Ola)
Wampire – The Hearse (Polyvinyl)
Terri Hooley – Big Time (Immortal)
The Strokes – Happy Endings (Rough Trade)
Iggy & The Stooges – Burn (Fat Possum)
Barbara Pittman – Everlasting Love (Sanctuary)
Christian McNeill – Everything’s Up For Grabs (Q Dee)
Randy Newman – Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear (Reprise)
Desert Hearts – Tell The King (No Dancing)
Milk Carton Kids – The Ash And Clay (Anti)
Charles Bradley – Victim Of Love (Daptone)
Matthew E White – Steady Pace (Domino)
Willie Nelson – Let’s Face The Music (Sony)
Lucinda Williams – Drunken Angel (Mercury)
Bibio – A Tout A L’Heure (Warp)
British Sea Power – What You Need The Most (Rough Trade)
Daughter – Human (4ad)
M83 – Oblivion (Back Lot)
