Faithful ManTruth & Soul ****

Like Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley before him, it's taken many years for longtime off- the-radar r'n'b veteran Lee Fields to find his audience. Aside from possessing a rasping voice that you just can't ignore, the North Carolina soulman also benefits from the presence and sure-fire touchof a great band called The Expressions, who make every tune sound like an untapped dusty groove from soul's 1960s and early '70s heyday. The beauty of Faithful Man comes in observing Fields's ability to be by turns boastful (I Still Got It), lovelorn (I'm Still Hanging On) and sweetly seductive (You're the Kind of Girl). Musically it's just as strong, with the band clicking onto the kind of dramatic sweeps and swoops you'd usually associate with an old Isaac Hayes record. Further proof that great soul voices never go out of fashion.  facebook.com/leefieldsandthe expressions

Download tracks: I Still Got It, Faithful Man