Shrine The Rarest Soul Label

If I had a pound for every time a "rare soul label" compilation album crossed my desk, I'd have enough dosh to start my very own indie label dedicated to obscure Hungarian post-punk. But lo and behold, British label Acid Jazz Records have unearthed a gem with "Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label." From the get-go, you can tell this compilation is a labour of love. The tracklist reads like a who's who of forgotten soul legends, with names like The Montclairs, Sharon Scott, and The Dynamics making an appearance. These are the kind of artists that your dad's best friend swears he saw at a dingy club in the '70s, but you always took with a pinch of salt. Well, prepare to eat your words, because these grooves are smoother than a freshly shaven Barry White. But it's not just the names that make "Shrine" stand out. The production quality is top-notch, with each track sounding like it was cut straight from a dusty reel-to-reel tape in Muscle Shoals. The lush string arrangements and buttery horn sections are enough to make even the most jaded hipster shed a tear. So, if you're tired of the same old Motown hits and wanna dig a little deeper into the world of rare soul, "Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label" is the perfect gateway drug. Just be warned, you may find yourself trawling through dusty record shops at 2 am, hunting for that elusive 7-inch single by a band you've never heard of. But hey, isn't that what being a music nerd is all about?