Reviews

"One of the Summer's best indie soul compilations has been Soul Unsigned's 'The 2011 Summer Sessions'; and one of that album's best cuts is 'Betcha Didn't Know' from E.R.I.C. The abbreviation stands for "Extra Rich In Class" and the name's the performing alter ego of New York based soul man ERIC HARRIS. The good news for those who enjoyed 'Betcha Didn't Know' and indeed for anyone who craves 80s soul with a modern twist is that E.R.I.C. has just released a four track EP. The lead cut is the aforementioned 'Betcha' but the set boasts two more urgent dancers – 'Crazy Love' and 'Groove' whose title sums it all up perfectly... shades of WILL DOWNING about his one. The EP is completed with the lush ballad, 'Wedding Day'... and yes, you're right – Mr. HARRIS is clearly aiming straight at the lucrative wedding song market. He deserves to succeed. The cut is spot on for that magical moment ... romantic but not overly sentimental."

Bill Buckley
SoulandJazzandFunk.com

"Soul Unsigned's latest collection sets out to offer us new soul sounds to accompany our summer... a soundtrack to the season, if you would... and label boss and compiler Phil Driver's succeeded. The 14 tracker – sourced from all over the place – is all up-tempo, creating the perfect summer feeling and as with almost all Soul Unsigned compilations, there's variety enough to satisfy right across the soul spectrum. Things kick off with a slice of retro. Moonshoes' 'Boogieland' is a Parisian take on disco – with full on vocoder effects; and if retro soul's your thing, there are lots more. DJ/producer Max Sedgley offers an unashamed 80's pastiche on 'All Around Me' (fab, soulful vocal from Tasita D'Mour), while E.R. I.C. takes a leaf out of Colonel Abrams' book on his 'Betcha Didn't Know'. "

Bill Buckley ,
SoulandJazzandFunk.com

"Unlike many previous album releases by Soul Unsigned, this is a very much uptempo offering (as the album title suggests), with the Katie Cole, LeNora Jaye and E.R.I.C. melodies especially appealing here."

Toby Walker
Soulwalking.com

"The lovers of 80s groove are represented by Enois Scroggins “You Saved Me” and E.R.I.C.’s “Betcha Didn’t Know.” The former, a gospel track, allows Enois to enthuse about the Lord over tight 80s beats, but the Alexander O’Neal-like vocals on the latter excited me more, in its ability to present raw masculinity and vulnerability at the same time. Read more: Various Artists - The 2011 (Summer) Session | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews "

Ricardito
SoulTracks.com