Soultimate is the latest album by Pisa based Italian mod soul band Piaggio Soul Combination. They have now been joined by Lakeetra Knowles on lead vocals, to make them a 10-piece band. Lakeetra made her name in Italy on The X-Factor. The album has been produced by the Blow-Up Club DJ Andy Lewis who I haven't heard play in ages.
This opens with Hang On a classic slice of lush 60's style almost orchestral soul with loads of brass stabs, a great piano part that the brass seems to fire off of, as Lakeetra lets us know why it is she's still having to Hang On as she wonders if it's worth it or not.
Scooter Runnin' is for when you've got all dressed up, shined up all the chrome on your Vespa or Lambretta and are looking super sharp, to go runnin' around town turning heads once more, for the style obsessed this song is a handy what to wear guide, go on pull on your Harrington and groove along to this modern mod classic.
Do It really should be a Pink Fairies cover but is instead an original foot stomping soul groove sensation to get on down and Do It too. Hard Times State Of Mind sounds like a tribute to the guvnor Georgie Fame with Marco Piagessi taking lead vocals and sounding like he wants to be the Ace Face.
Se Llama Boogaloo has a real Tito Puente feel to it like they want to samba across the dancefloor towards you with this super sophisticated Latin soul sound to do the Boogaloo with you.
I Can't Believe It's Over is exactly the sort of heartbreaker it's title suggests, as first he begs and pleads to get back in the saddle, in among all the brass stabs and backing vocals how will he go on, other than to hit the dance floor and give it his all to the magnificent backing band.
Hitman almost goes all Soul II Soul on her response to the messy breakup of the last song as she worries, he's put a hit out on her and is trying to make sure the Hitman doesn't do her in.
Borderline Breakaway see's them up in Trieste trying to get across that border once more as the organ does all sorts of things to make sure it's not just the brass section that captivates, as the groove gets right deep to you as he wants to know why he has to go running away.
No Longer has the feeling of Gloria Jones style torch song about how that flame has been extinguished and she really doesn't want to see him anymore.
Newly Born Love and yes you guessed it, she's back on the scene like a washing machine once more, has spotted her new beau, who she wants to make sweet soul music with, will the lucky chap give in to her pleading and let love in or not? With a spoken word part that goes a bit Leslie Gore, this sounds like it could have come out in 1963 rather than 2022.
Blind Man is about a Blind Man who's on your trail and has you number, now what will happen if he catches you or hears your voice once more over some brilliantly electrified blues soul.
The Facts Of Life isn't quite a re-writing of the Ten Commandments Of Love especially as in places it sounds more Alessi Brothers rather than The Moonglows.
Dome Slow is a slow soul shimmy with a wailing blues guitar freakout and a heart-breaking sax solo on the sort of vamp that could be walk on music.
The album closes with By Then (I'll Be gone) that has some very Georgie Fame organ surrounded by the horn section and one last song of love and loss as his love walks out that door at the end of another steamy affair, is he happy to be leaving or not as they go into the Shout style call and response gospel blues climax.
Find out more at https://areapiratarec.bandcamp.com/album/soultimate https://www.facebook.com/PiaggioSoulCombination https://www.facebook.com/lakeetra
