With a hugely impressive, extraordinary vocal range, especially in falsetto, the south-east Londoner’s debut LP feels like an instant soul and funk classic, bulked great bass and brass, and shored up with a team of top-notch producers. The album comprises four sections embodying different areas of life - the combative first, The Battle, which includes previous singles ‘W.A.R’ and ‘Return’, the more reflective The Surrender, embodied by recent single Poetic Justice, followed by the softer focus The Love (Thought About You, Kisses, It’s In Your Sex and finally, The Lesson (Remember, Break, and he defiantly optimistic Black Boy). The opener, Tears of a Crown, is a bold way to start by reminding us of a Motown mega hit, but Culpepper’s own song is strong in its own way, filled with layers building to a crescendo. The punchy W.A.R. and its section overall is a standout, alongside the closing Lesson songs. There’s a strong Prince influence here as well as some Curtis Mayfield, but Culpepper has equally got the talent to do it his way, with excellent production in the hands of, among others, Guy Chambers, Raf Rundell, Shawn Lee and Tom Misch. Funky and soaring soul, and very fine indeed. Out on Pepper Records.
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