RAPHAEL Saadiq is not exactly a familiar name in this country, although he is a bit of a favourite on BBC2’s Later.
In the US, he has been honing his retro shtick for years, in various bands and now under his own name. Stone Rollin’ is a pitch-perfect serving of old-style rhythm and blues, with occasional and interesting modern undertones.
Saadiq often sounds genuinely like the great soul star time forgot, as seen on Go To Hell, the supremely swelling second track with its echoes of Marvin Gaye – yet on edgy opener Heart Attack he comes over all Plan B. The outstanding number is Good Man, a sorrowful hymn to lost love and doing the right thing but to no avail.
Also good, and vaguely psychedelic in feel, is Over You. If Saadiq occasionally tries too hard to convince, his darker, bluer moments hint at more rewarding depths.
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