A
gospel album, but one with deep funk roots – the first full length album from
Naomi Shelton, a vocalist we first came to love for her funky 45s on the Desco and Daptone labels! The music's a great mix of
gospel vocals and some of the heavy soul sounds we've come to expect from Daptone – small combo instrumentation led by keyboardist Cliff Driver – recorded with a gritty edge that takes us back to the best southern soul sounds of the late 60s. Production is impeccable – a perfect setting for
Naomi's great lead vocals, and some hip support from the
Gospel Queens trio – and although contemporary, the album's like finding a batch of rare soul
gospel singles in the back of some dusty record shop. Titles include "What Is This", "What Have You Done", "I'll Take The Long Road", "Trouble In My Way", "Am I Asking Too Much", "He Knows My Heart", "By Your Side", and "Lift My Burdens".