With a sound reminiscent of a 1960s Motown floor-stomper, Brooklyn-born soulstress Nicole Willis and the New Orlean-ized Helsinki funk outfit The Soul Investigators first came to everyone's attention back in mid-2005 with the release of their debut single "If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is)" (one of Gilles Peterson's tracks of that year). 2006 brought us a whole long-player of bona fide retro-sounding, floor-shakin' soul and down-to-the-bone funk goodness which really hits the spot. As Willis says, their sound reminds her of dancing with her sister to new James Brown tracks in their local record shop when they were children.

Top 10 Urban Album of the Year. The sound of young Finnish funk. Willis and band breathe new life into an often curatorial musical tradition. – Mojo

“Feeling Free” – Song of the Year – Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 1

They round up every stray vibe a soul LP should boast. Four Stars! – Record Collector

Probably the best classic Motown album never recorded. Five Stars! – i-DJ Magazine

The Brooklyn-born Willis has worked with Curtis Mayfield, Leftfield, and done crucial work for Mo’ Wax, while the Finnish-bred Soul Investigators have crafted two previous full-lengths and a handful of 45s.

Adored by the UK’s Northern Soul DJs and fans, Keep Reachin’ Up has conquered Europe with timeless tracks like “Downtown” and “Feeling Free” – the 2006 Worldwide Winner for Song of the Year according to world famous DJ Gilles Peterson. International momentum for the album has also been spurred by a BBC Top Ten Track of the Year listing for “If This Ain’t Love”, four star reviews for the Finnish release by MOJO & Record Collector, and a nod by Dusty Groove as an “instant classic” .

Some notable members of The Soul Investigators include: Producer Jukka Sarapää on drums; Didier “Baby Spector” Selin on tambourine, guitar & bass; Pete Toikkanen on guitar & bass; Antti Määtänen on organ & piano; Sami Kantelinen on bass. The record also includes contributions from celebrated composer and Matador Records-alum Jimi Tenor, and string arrangements by world renowned violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

A classic soul debut, Keep Reachin’ Up is an essential addition to any collection!!

TRACKLIST

1 Feeling Free

2 If This Ain't Love (I Don't Know What Is)

3 Keep Reachin' Up

4 Blues Downtown

5 My Four Leaf Clover

6 A Perfect Kind Of Love

7 Invisible Man

8 Holdin' On

9 No One's Gonne Love You

10 Soul Investigators Theme

11 Untitled