Cellz and Packed Rich - Only Soul (Self Release) [Nu-Soul]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 5 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Enabled by cheaper music-making equipment, DAWs and the democratisation of the music release game, more and more artists are flying solo from home studios and bedroom setups. But with humans' innate social need, more than ever solo acts are also seeking musical companionship, inspiration and synergy, and this millennium is arguably, as well as the golden age of musical fusion, the golden age of musical collaboration.
Luckily for us German South African, soul-inclined singer-songwriter and sax player Marcel Zoetl aka Cellz, has bumped into the piano-playing, free-flowing beat maker Alexis Boettcher aka Packed Rich, and their new single is a nu-soul diamond.
They've also called upon the well-named Crunchy Sweater, another South African export, vocalist, guitar and bass-favouriting multi-instrumentalist, to add some vocal support, subtle finger-picked details and generally enhance the loose, live and lithe feel.
You know the track is a winner from the off: seductive, snuggly synth sounds riding the slow, sparse yet swinging beats that gently lead us by the hand to the vocals - Crunchy first, I think, musing on his present state of mind, closely followed by Cellz floating his lower gravity, sweeter tones and easy sax refrain over the top of the easy-bumping riddim. And, apart from the on-point sonic detailing, that's about it, and trust me, you don't want much more - there is succinct yet seductive nu-soul synergy here, and a serious tune.
Playlist Companion
Find them in the Slow Soul Playlist.