Agency by William Gibson 
Soul ensemble Wonder 45 are from London, but sound like they could be from if not Detroit maybe New York and at the peak of Motown; they play soul like it used to be played. I guess their name is based on the vinyl single format, too.
I Googled a couple of their names – Jessica Greenfield is a member of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Steve Pringle works with Michael Kiwanuka, so we are talking world-class musicians, presumably on much-loved side projects.
The album kicks off with “Cry”, a sound and standard it maintains thereafter: quick drum filler, soulful brass as the band kicks in, then soulful vocals over a dramatic, classic sounding mid-tempo song of lost love.
“Round and Round” is slower and more romantic, reminiscent of “Top of the Pops” in about 1973 and a line-up of earnest young chaps in matching purple suits but with fine voices. “Make It Happen” is from the same show, but more streetwise dudes playing funky soul in turtle necks, and with hefty chains.
The title track is in last-song-at-the-disco mode. The quality is high, all the way to the fast-paced closer “Into The Fire”, the theme for a groovy party thrown by Austin Powers.
Available on vinyl, CD and download via Big AC Records.
See wonder45.bandcamp.com.
JMC
