Reviewed by Stuart Blackburn

It doesn't get much cooler than this. Jim Overton, a Manchester-based singer who's previously helped out on WWMT projects, has indeed stuffed this Coolbag with ten soulful songs to make a summer. The opening "Music To Your Heart" and other tracks on the CD are served with a deliberate helping of cheese but it is well refrigerated and hopefully nobody will mind especially if we call it retro-disco.  Funky bass lines and catchy choruses abound as the listener is treated to a musical picnic: sometimes R&B, sometimes mellow, sometimes groovy but always very cool. The undisputed highlight of this disc is the funktastic "Weep" which in spite of the title will slap a big grin on your face and soon have you singing along.  The cherry (tomato?) on top is the reflective "Forgiven" - a fitting close as we sit together on the chequered table cloth of life. This is music to make a summer no matter what time of year it is. 

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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