www.numerogroup.com

I have to get it out of the way now: holy crap! This is exemplary music from seven artists that I’ve never heard of. Now, the level of my ignorance is not in dispute, but I’ve had thirty years to get hip to this stuff!

 Culled from the ’70s archives of obscure regional (Columbus, Ohio) label Capsoul, Eccentric Soul is a wonderful wormhole back to an era when Motown, Philly and Memphis sparred for their share of Number Ones, a time when funk was in its infancy, and a place where a rap meant that there was somebody at your door. Surprisingly the material doesn’t sound dated, although Bill Moss’ musical mantra, “Sock It To ’Em Soul Brother” name-drops O.J. Simpson, something very unlikely to happen today. Moss also offers a dip-me-in-the-water piece called “Number One,” another believe-in-yourself advisement. Almost every kind of soul/pop from the era is represented here, from the Miracles-like sound of Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum and Durr (“You’re All I Need to Make It”) to a slow jam a la Curtis Mayfield (Kool Blues’ “I Want to Be Ready”). There’s even a nod to Junior Walker’s instrumental sound in Elijah & the Ebonites’ sax rave-up, “Hot Grits!” While the music presented on Eccentric Soul is the thing that has been rescued, the feeling of grace resides squarely with its listener. FYI: Numero intends to distribute their releases through their Website only.

—Kevin Wierzbicki