The latest in Truth & Soul's highly anticipated (and muchly appreciated) Black Top reissue series brings us a pair of super-obscure cuts from Black Velvet, a teenage female vocal trio from New Jersey. The original 45 is rare beyond rare, but considering the quality of these tracks, it's kinda shocking that this hasn't been reissued before. On the A-side, "Is It Me You Really Love?(1)" comes with the sweltering horns and slow-burner feel of some classic Southern soul shit, the girls' vocals just wrapping around you and putting the suicide squeeze on yr heart. On the flip, a newly remixed and remastered version of "An Earthquake Coming(2)" is some real upbeat hot time summer in the city type shit. A very cool reissue from T&S. Both tracks include instrumentals, plus interesting little "bonus beat" type tracks at the end of each side.

reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red