Stone Foundation – those arch purveyors of sweat-drenched soul, funk and jazz – have, of late, been patiently honing their songwriting and performing crafts on the live circuit, and August will see them releasing ‘A Life Unlimited’, their fourth studio album. This is a band that has found its feet while others (they know who they are) have been busy hunting for their socks, experimenting or else fruitlessly searching for the 13th note.

It has taken three albums (the magic number) for Stone Foundation to reach the high ground from which they now offer this 10-track long player as a follow up to ‘To Find The Spirit’. And that itself was no ordinary LP. It featured Carleen Anderson and Nolan Porter, with Paolo Hewitt delivering spoken word verse. It showcased a band doing what came naturally, and with exuberance. So much so that the album caught the ear of Craig Charles and received regular radio play. Then came two tours of Japan. And in the land of the rising sun, Stone Foundation landed a recording contract with the independent P-Vine label. They then made an appearance at the Fuji Rock Festival. It has been nothing but hard, enjoyable graft to get to this point (which included persuading Horace Panter of The Specials to render the sleeve art).

And the secret of this collective’s burgeoning success? It can be found on the opener ‘Beverley’ which possesses an early ’70s Isley Brothers feel. It’s a carefully considered, blue-eyed soul-funk workout that leaves behind the rougher edges of the band’s northern soul-inspired repertoire. Neil Jones’s lead vocals are laid-back, textured, curiously furred and at ease, calling to mind a young Chris Farlowe. Then comes ‘Pushing Your Love’ which begins ruminatively, all sinewy Hammond organ and hi-hat. Yes, this record unashamedly honours soul legends of the past, but it comes up with something a little different as the background harmonies of The Four Perfections push Jones’s voice in an unexpected and pleasing direction.

In ‘Something In The Light’ you can hear the influences of Stax and Isaac Hayes, the song luxuriating in its own ambience and defiantly spurning the DJ who might want something ’21st century’, two and a half minutes long and as digestible as a cheeseburger. This track stretches out in the wide space it is afforded by a group of players who have been whipped into shape by the demands of the live scene.

Gospel piano, hand claps and bass form the dimensions of ‘Speak Your Piece’ and evoke memories of Marvin, while on ‘Learning The Hard Way’ you get the full Don Renaldo-style woodwind overture followed by ‘These Life Stories’ where the nimble bass work of Neil Sheasby makes for an eminently danceable track.

The LP drifts to a close with ‘A Love Uprising’ which possesses the pulse of classic Blow Monkeys entwined with the hook of Lamont Dozier’s ‘Going Back to My Roots’ as the guesting Dr Robert (Howard) preaches the word in counterpoint to Jones’s impassioned vocal.

This is, therefore, an album that has evidently been made for the love of it, which – in this age of sham and fork-tongued press release, and amid the botoxed posturings of very old emperors in very new clothes – is a rare thing indeed.

‘A Life Unlimited’ will be released on 7 August through Republic Of Music and on 17 June in Japan on P-Vine Records.

Jason Holmes
@JasonAHolmes