Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos – This Is… (Legere Recordings) Lately, have you had cravings for something a little different? Perhaps a little looser? Something that makes you want to move? With plenty of heart and soul, but without the harsh digital licks of contemporary R&B? If that’s the case, I think you may be in luck. Hamburg based Gizelle Smith has been making waves for a little while now, with a series of 45s following a Betty Davis, Marva Whitney inspired funk groove. That may sound a trifle retro, yet it’s fresh and vital, because Smith just might be the real deal, and her band have simplified the process to emphasise her raw soul technique. Her debut long player gathers her previous singles and adds some new material, and the result is a collection that will enthrall all lovers of ‘70s dance music. Possibly the most viable alternative to the nasty soulless R&B that seems to dominate the airwaves and music TV, and I’m looking forward to them ripping up the festival circuit, come the summer. www.myspace.com/gizellesmithmusic Rob F. Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos – Working Woman Next