MARLENA SHAW - The Spice Of Life (Vampisoul Reissue) MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE ” and the irrepressible “Niger

” and the irrepressible “Niger Mambo” by the Nigerian musician and composer Bobby Benson

I taped it by leaning the microphone from my clunky cassette recorder against the speaker of our old transistor radio and I listened to that tape over and over again” - Nick Hornby

named for the famed Italian film composer

I remember doing the ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ cover

and storytelling as an incredible cast of 40 whizz around and above

MARLENA SHAW - The Spice Of Life (Vampisoul Reissue) MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE ” and the irrepressible “NigerLP 180g Black Vinyl (2025 Vampisoul Reissue). From the opening, Shaws voiceboth playful and powerfulcuts through the lush yet tight knit arrangements, weaving together a vibrant tapestry of soul, proto funk, jazz, gospel, and blues. The album features two defining classics: her deeply resonant original of Woman of the Ghetto and a signature take on Ashford & Simpsons California Soul, both staples in sampling culture (you'll probably find that you're