(August 13, 2024) Soulpersona’s authentic R&B grooves with jazzy twists and turns have been delighting fans of both instrumental soul-dance tracks and vocal modern funk over the last decade and a half. Beginning with 2009’s Soulacoaster and continuing with albums featuring Princess Freesia such as 2015’s Fast Forward and 2018’s Sunset City, the British producer and arranger has crafted dozens of funky numbers steeped in sophisticated rhythms and magnetic melodies.
Magic Bullet, Soulpersona’snew full-length project in collaboration with keyboardist Carl Hudson, delivers a notable selection of nuanced numbers showcasing stalwart musicianship. Hudson’s captivating style is interwoven with the deft playing of guitarist Terry Lewis, bassist Andy Tolman, and trumpeter Bryan Corbett—among others. Standout track “Roll the Dice,” originally an instrumental slice of boogie goodness, has dropped as the set’s first single with the addition of vocalist Deborah Bond.
Bond, who previously delivered on Soulpersona’s midtempo gem “Let It Go,” offers a softly sprightly take on “Roll the Dice.” Positive and affirming lyrical passages synthesize with the cool and collected arrangement. Accentuated with a programmed drum breakdown between verses, the words inspire momentum and hope: “I believe in freedom, I don’t want to live in chains/I’ve accepted who I am, there’s no need for me to change…If I must keep walking blindly, I’ll live in the mystery.”
“Roll the Dice” presents a finely textured vocal performance alongside a fulfilling rhythm section executing a sonic experience that’s a most enjoyable excursion for the mind.
