In our ears, we’d swear that we’re hearing the avenging son of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson! However, it’s a fifty-something Brit, and lily-white furthermore, who perfectly hollers in the mike. Oh, this voice! It is high time justice was done to James Hunter, who has been busying himself like no other for ages on the 100% organic rhythm ‘n’ blues and soul grounds, without GMOs or sweeteners. For Whatever It Takes, the former railroader from Colchester took off toward the Penrose studios in Riverside, California, with the crew from Daptone Records, to conceive one of his most astounding discs. Fat-free compositions, choruses to die for, brass section drawn in perfectly straight lines and over-active guitars, nothing is missing from this celebration of eternal soul music. Since the Brooklyn label of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley, Lee Fields et Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens hired him, James Hunter has felt ten feet tall. With the complicity of the boss of Daptone, Gabriel Roth aka Bosco Mann, at the console, he even found the ideal loud-hailer of his brilliantly retrograde ideas. It’s a real pleasure. © MZ/Qobuz