Soulful reggae by Soul Sugar in 45 ‘Top Of My List feat. Shniece’
Guillaume Metenier is the mastermind behind Soul Sugar, a collaboration-powered project that showcases the talented producer and organist’s authentic musical fusions of dub, reggae, soul-jazz, funk and neo-soul.
To get us in the mood for his upcoming album scheduled for releazse in February 20234, he’s dropping one of the album’s undoubted highlights, “Top of My List feat. Shniece”, which will be available worldwide via digital download and exclusively in Japan (and via selected stores worldwide) on 7-inch vinyl via a collaboration with HHV.de.
Edited down from the extended album version, “Top of My List” is the first collaboration between Metenier and rising star Shniece McMenamin, a London-based soul singer best known for her work with dub maestro Prince Fatty. On “Top of My List” she delivers an impeccably emotive lead vocal, perfectly delivering her own thoughtful and insightful lyrics.
Combined with a languid, sun-kissed reggae backing track rich in Metenier’s superb instrumentation and fluid guitar licks courtesy of Samuel Isoard, Shniece’s vocals help make “Top of My List” one of Soul Sugar’s most enchanting singles to date.
Those who purchase the vinyl version of the single – or the Soul Sugar bandcamp edition for that matter – can also savour Metenier’s accompanying dub mix, where he successfully channels the spirit of King Tubby and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. Built around the sturdy rhythm track – Yvo Abadi on drums and percussion, Metenier on bass – the dub is a whirlwind of echoing vocal snippets, delay-heavy guitar and organ hooks and aquatic-sounding special effects. In other words, it’s a genuinely killer dub in the classic Jamaican style.
“Top Of My List” out via 45 / Digitally on November 10th via Gee Recordings
