The invincible crooner and lover that brings silky-soft soul to each of his records is back. While Lee Fields had spent more than 40 years in the style of James Brown (he was nicknamed Little JB), his career didn’t kick off until 2006 when his captivating and husky voice featured on Martin Solveig’s Jealousy. Immediately after, his album My World confirmed that the North Carolina native was not only a voice but a true and important personality in the contemporary and retro-inspired soul scene. With If Rains Love, his fifth record with the band of New-York producer Leon Michels and the Expressions, his smooth melodies are combined with a solid deep funk rhythm. The singer in his sixties expresses great capacity to love, in this record that perfectly balances the old and the new. In short, this is Lee at his most comfortable, kicked back and relaxed. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz