Reel People are back. Back to their roots. Back to the future. Back with a bang. Eagerly awaited new album Retroflection sees the revered collective recreating 12 soul, disco and boogie classics pivotal to their formation nearly 20 years ago and subsequent hugely successful evolution. Band leader Oli Lazarus has gathered a stellar cast of musicians and singers, - the likes of Angie Stone, Mica Paris, Omar, Tony Momrelle, Navasha Daya, Anthony David, LaSharVu and Sharlene Hector breathing fresh and irresistible life into seminal grooves by Maze, Evelyn 'Champagne' King and Teena Marie among others.

Mica Paris opens proceedings, her powerful take on Alicia Myers' gospel-R&B jam I Want To Thank You an impressive herald for what's to come - authenticity, contemporary edge, rich musicianship, beating soulful heart. Angie Stone provides sass 'n' slink over signature low-end synths for a suitably raw re-tooling of Yarbrough & People's 1980 hit Don't Stop The Music, whilst the funky strut of Thinking About Your Love (a crisper, more urgent update of Skipworth & Turner) perfectly complements Omar's expansive, one-in-a-million vocals. Elsewhere, Reel People regular Tony Momrelle revisits Carl Anderson's mid-Eighties gem Buttercup (penned by Stevie Wonder) with considerable finesse as well as Bill Withers' seriously underrated collabo with guitarist Jose Feliciano, Can We Pretend.

Basement Jaxx songstress Sharlene Hector uplifts on a sparkling new version of Ronnie Laws/Side Effect's Always There. Reel People's sweet summer hook-ups with Baltimore chanteuse Navasha Dava are also present and correct - In Love and Can't Fake The Feeling pay affectionate tribute to Evelyn 'Champagne' King and Geraldine Hunt respectively at the same time as showcasing Daya's sublime, jazz-flecked delivery. There's still room for Anthony David's luscious rendition of deep-soul bomb Keep It Up (originally by Milton Wright) and for LaSharVu - a white-hot amalgam of Hector and fellow female powerhouses Vulu Malinga and LaDonna Harley-Peters - to smartly re-dress Teena Marie joint I Need Your Lovin'. Sleek instrumental twists on Maze's Twilight and Pleasure's Joyous complete the incredible line-up.

Reel People's first full studio album in 10 years (following acclaimed releases Second Guess and Seven Ways To Wonder, as well as compilation work including Golden Lady), Retroflection reflects the highest possible level of passion and polish. Such soulful devotion and craftmanship has ever been a Reel People hallmark. Recorded in London and Atlanta over an intense 12-month period, Retroflection also avoids the formulaic overload of modern beats and basslines that countless others pursue. Here the past is artfully reawakened, Reel People%u2019s talented cast of performers %u2013 overseen by experienced studio-hands Lazarus, Mike Patto, Matt Cooper (of Incognito fame) and Toni Economides - re-treading classic riffs with new yet respectful purpose. Their compelling neo-soul blend of now and then should awe diehards and newcomers alike. Retroflection is one hell of a return.

Oh, and before you ask - (it's the question Lazarus gets the most) - live shows are set to follow. Reel People have recorded Retroflection with an easy translation to 'the road' front of funky mind. Looks, then, like we'll be enjoying this incredible group's company well into 2019...and beyond. It really is good to have them back.

For more info on all of our releases go to www.reelpeoplemusic.com

1. I Want To Thank You (feat. Mica Paris)
A. Myers
Copyright Control / Grab her Publishing!
Produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Co-produced by Matt Cooper
Lead Vocals by Mica Paris
Background Vocals by Mica Paris, Tasha LaRae & Maleke O'Ney
Drum Programming by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Drums by Matt Cooper
Piano & Keyboards by Matt Cooper
Bass by Francis Hylton
Guitar by Tony Remy

2. Twilight
F. Beverley
IQ Music Ltd
Produced by Mike Patto
Co-produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Backing Vocals by Omar & Tony Momrelle
Keyboards by Mike Patto
Drum Programming by Mike Patto, Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides

3. Don't Stop The Music (feat. Angie Stone)
A. Peoples / J. Ellis / L. Simmons
Minder Music Ltd
Produced by Mike Patto
Co-produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Lead Vocals by Angie Stone
Backing Vocals by Angie Stone, Carl McIntosh, Vanessa Freeman & Tony Momrelle
Drum Programming by Mike Patto, Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Drums by Ernie Mckone
Keyboards by Mike Patto & Matt Cooper
Guitar by Luca Faraone
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson

4. I'm In Love (feat. Navasha Daya)
Kashif
Universal/MCA Music Ltd
Produced by Mike Patto, Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Lead & Background Vocals by Navasha Daya
Background Vocals by Tony Momrelle
Drum Programming by Mike Patto, Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Keyboards by Mike Patto
Drums by Matt Cooper
Piano by Matt Cooper
Guitar by Chris Franck

5. Buttercup (feat. Tony Momrelle)
S. Wonder
SONY/ATV
Produced by Mike Patto
Co-produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Lead Vocals by Tony Momrelle
Backing Vocals by Tony Momrelle, Tasha LaRae & Maleke O'Ney
Drum Programming by Mike Patto, Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Drums by Ernie Mckone
Piano, Rhodes & Keyboards by Mike Patto
Bass by Ernie Mckone
Guitar by Tony Remy
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson
Trombone by Trevor Mires
Trumpet by Sid Gauld
Saxophone & Flute by Graeme Blevins
Horns transcribed by Robin Lee

6. Always There (feat. Sharlene Hector)
R. Laws
BMG Rights UK
Produced by Oli Lazarus, Mike Patto & Toni Economides
Lead Vocals by Sharlene Hector
Background Vocals by Sharlene Hector, Vanessa Freeman & Ruby Wood
Drum Programming by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Drums by Matt Cooper
Percussion by Carl Smith
Keyboards by Matt Cooper & Mike Patto
Bass by Ernie Mckone
Guitar & Vocoder by Tony Remy
Saxophone by Graeme Blevins

7. Can We Pretend (feat. Tony Momrelle)
B. Withers
Chelsea Music Co Ltd
Produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Co-produced by Matt Cooper
Lead Vocals by Tony Momrelle
Drums by Matt Cooper
Rhodes by Matt Cooper
Bass by Ernie Mckone
Guitar by Luca Faraone
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson
Trumpet by Sid Gauld
Violin & Viola by Maria Grigoryeva
Cello by Lyudmila Kadyrbaeve
Strings transcribed by Robin Lee

8. I Need Your Lovin' (feat. LaSharVu)
T. Marie
SONY/ATV
Produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Co-produced by Matt Cooper & Mike Patto
Vocals by Ladonna Harley-Peters, Sharlene Hector & Vula Malinga
Drums by Matt Cooper
Piano by Matt Cooper
Bass by Francis Hylton
Guitar by Luca Faraone
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson
Trombone by Trevor Mires
Trumpet by Sid Gauld
Saxophone by Graeme Blevins
Saxophone Solo by Martin Williams
Violin & Viola by Maria Grigoryeva
Cello by Lyudmila Kadyrbaeve
Strings & Horns transcribed by Robin Lee

9. Joyous
M. Hepburn
BMG Rights Managements (UK) Ltd
Produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Co-produced by Matt Cooper
Backing Vocals by Tony Momrelle & Mike Patto
Talk Box by Tony Momrelle
Drums & Keyboards by Matt Cooper
Guitars by Tony Remy
Bass by Francis Hylton
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson
Trombone by Trevor Mires
Trumpet by Sid Gauld
Saxophone by Graeme Blevins
Saxophone Solo by Martin Williams
Violin & Viola by Maria Grigoryeva
Cello by Lyudmila Kadyrbaeve
Strings & Horns transcribed by Robin Lee

10. Can't Fake The Feeling (feat. Navasha Daya)
G. Hunt / K. Dyson
Spirit Music Group
Produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Co-produced by Matt Cooper
Vocals by Navasha Daya
Drums by Matt Cooper
Drum Programming by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Piano & Rhodes by Matt Cooper
Bass by Ernie Mckone
Guitar by Luca Faraone
Percussion by Carl Smith
Violin & Viola by Maria Grigoryeva
Cello by Lyudmila Kadyrbaeve
Strings transcribed by Robin Lee

11. Thinking About Your Love (feat. Omar)
R. Skipworth / P. Turner
Memory Lane Music Ltd
Produced by Mike Patto
Co-produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Lead Vocals by Omar
Backing Vocals by Omar, Tasha LaRae & Maleke O'Ney
Drum Programming by Mike Patto, Daz-I-Kue, Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Drums by Matt Cooper
Piano, Rhodes & Keyboards by Mike Patto
Guitar by Luca Faraone
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson
Trombone by Trevor Mires
Trumpet by Sid Gauld
Saxophone by Graeme Blevins
Horns transcribed by Robin Lee

12. Keep It Up (feat. Anthony David)
M. Wright
EMI Music Publishing / SONY/ATV
Produced by Oli Lazarus & Toni Economides
Co-produced by Matt Cooper
Vocals by Anthony David
Oooh's & Aaah's by Tasha LaRae & Maleke O'Ney
Drums by Matt Cooper
Piano & Keyboards by Matt Cooper
Bass by Francis Hylton
Guitars by Ernie Mckone
Percussion by Crispin 'Spry' Robinson

Recording Engineers - Toni Economides, Matt Cooper, Ernie Mckone, Chris Franck & Mike Patto.

Mixed by Toni Economides @ Bambu Studios, London.

Mastered by Nigel Palmer @ Lowland Masters
www.lowlandmasters.com

Photography by Gavin Mills
www.gavinmillsphotography.com

Illustrations by Jeff Conway at Pushing Normal
www.pushingnormal.com

Artwork by Matt Hughes at The Reptile House
www.thereptilehouse.net

A&R by Oli Lazarus
www.reelpeoplemusic.com
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All enquiries email info@reelpeoplemusic.co.uk
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P&C 2018 Reel People Music Ltd