It's About Time

At first listen, it might be tempting to dismiss Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics as latecomers to the retro-soul revival that kicked off with outfits like The Dap Kings and Sugarman 3 at the end of the ‘90s and gained commercial traction in the following decade thanks to U.K.-based singers like Amy Winehouse, Duffy, and others. However, this does Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics a great disservice, for not only have they patiently perfected their repertoire over nearly a decade of hard gigging throughout the American south, but their debut, It’s About Time, boasts an indelibly distinct sound indebted more to the deep soul traditions of their adopted hometown of Atlanta than to the changeable fashions of the contemporary soul revival. It’s About Time represents a significant step forward from The Soulphonics’ excellent but often roughshod early singles, and it's distinguished by genuinely clever songwriting and elegant production flourishes like the multi-tiered horn parts and shivering strings that grace the title track.