Various Artists Soul Togetherness 2019 / Various

Expansion's most successful and longest running compilation series returns with it's 2019 collection. It's the 20th edition. The concept remains, the tracks better than ever, fifteen must-have modern soul room gems taken from the year's biggest dance floor spins and new releases on the soul scene. Tracks here have topped UK soul charts including many that have not been available in all formats. Once again, attention is paid to the 'flow' of the 15 gems chosen here from uplifting new soul, shuffling boogie beats, rare groove/80s revival sounds, Brit soul, and R&B played at modern soul events. Participants this year include Lukas Setto with a signature song for 2019 for the first time here on CD and LP alongside other new artists Laville (new signing to Acid Jazz), DCR, The Terri Green Project, SolatiMusic. New music too from Shaila Prospere (first time CD/vinyl), Tre Williams, veteran artists Angie Stone (first time on vinyl), Glenn Jones (also first time on CD/vinyl ahead of appearance at January 2020's Luxury Soul Weekender), Rockie Robbins and Raheem Devaughn. There's a superb new cover of the Inner Life track "Make It Last Forever" from Steal Vybe, a 70s revival tune from Steve 'Doc' Willoughby.