ADVERTISE
CONTACT US
SUBMISSIONS
  • News
    Les Imprimés playing guitar

    Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

    Dina Ögon

    Dina Ögon impress with a stunning dose of Swedish soul / Mormor

    Woman in shadow

    Jean Root covers a classic with class / Aint Nobody

    Marie Dahlstrom and Delleile Ankrah

    [WATCH] Marie Dahlstrom floats in new duet / Clouds

    Imla with guitar

    [WATCH] Imla shares her Christmas memories / Sweetheart

    45 single

    Paul Mac Innes – Falling by the Wayside arrives on 45

    Miri Tesfazion

    Miri Tesfazion introduces her alternative dark R&B / Pressure

    Tilda Allie

    Genre-bending Tilda Allie electrifies / Say No

  • Reviews
    • All
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
    • Single / EP Reviews
    Elna Romberg christmas

    Christmas – Elna Romberg 

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Lost EP - AME ARDAI

    Lost EP – AME ARDAI

    Dtroit Heavy LP album cover

    Heavy – D/troit

  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Scandinavian Soul Sessions
    • Soul Talk
    Black & white soul singer

    Soul music – the sound of societal change

    Johan Nilsson

    [INTERVIEW] Behind the groove with Band of Pockets

    Aureola

    I wanted it to sound like the feeling of running your hand over silk – Aureola

    Naomi Vaughn

    ‘We just broke out laughing and kept laughing’ – Interview with Naomi Vaughn

    Fredrik Hjulmand

    Behind the groove with FHIO and his debut single – I Never Knew

  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Music Awards
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Artists / Bands
  • Videos
    • Playlists
  • Shop
    • SOUL SHOP
      • STYLE
      • MERCHANDISE
      • VINYL
      • BOOKS
      • SALE
No Result
View All Result
0

No products in the basket.

  • News
    Les Imprimés playing guitar

    Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

    Dina Ögon

    Dina Ögon impress with a stunning dose of Swedish soul / Mormor

    Woman in shadow

    Jean Root covers a classic with class / Aint Nobody

    Marie Dahlstrom and Delleile Ankrah

    [WATCH] Marie Dahlstrom floats in new duet / Clouds

    Imla with guitar

    [WATCH] Imla shares her Christmas memories / Sweetheart

    45 single

    Paul Mac Innes – Falling by the Wayside arrives on 45

    Miri Tesfazion

    Miri Tesfazion introduces her alternative dark R&B / Pressure

    Tilda Allie

    Genre-bending Tilda Allie electrifies / Say No

  • Reviews
    • All
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
    • Single / EP Reviews
    Elna Romberg christmas

    Christmas – Elna Romberg 

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Lost EP - AME ARDAI

    Lost EP – AME ARDAI

    Dtroit Heavy LP album cover

    Heavy – D/troit

  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Scandinavian Soul Sessions
    • Soul Talk
    Black & white soul singer

    Soul music – the sound of societal change

    Johan Nilsson

    [INTERVIEW] Behind the groove with Band of Pockets

    Aureola

    I wanted it to sound like the feeling of running your hand over silk – Aureola

    Naomi Vaughn

    ‘We just broke out laughing and kept laughing’ – Interview with Naomi Vaughn

    Fredrik Hjulmand

    Behind the groove with FHIO and his debut single – I Never Knew

  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Music Awards
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Artists / Bands
  • Videos
    • Playlists
  • Shop
    • SOUL SHOP
      • STYLE
      • MERCHANDISE
      • VINYL
      • BOOKS
      • SALE
No Result
View All Result
0

No products in the basket.

No Result
View All Result

Caught in a Lie / The new single from Fatima

Cool Million bring Summer Rain

Touching My Soul / Rebecca Laakso

Dave Franklin by Dave Franklin
19/06/2018
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Pinterest

It is often the way of things that people who have a run on success at a young age often don’t make it back to the spotlight as an adult. Maybe they become too closely associated with that image of the child prodigy, maybe they quickly realise that it isn’t for them and do something else. The fact that since winning the Lilla Melodifestivalen for Sweden back in 2003, Rebecca Laakso has taken a long break from the public view, 15 years in fact, before returning to the musical affray and delivering her first full-length album says a lot. It means she returns without any pre-conceptions and baggage, it means that she has had time to think about the career that she wants to pursue and what sort of album she wants to make.

She returns as a whole new artist and Touching My Soul is the perfect way to re-establish herself in the public consciousness.

Like so many artists aiming for a young, hip and commercially minded audience, genre is not an issue. Those days of generic demarcations and tribal allegiances are long behind us and the modern artist is free to jump those stylistic and sonic fences, mix and match as they see fit and make music for a post-genre world. The art of it of course is to add all the various elements in such a way that there is a cohesiveness to the overall sound. Go too far out and the results can be jarring and seem forced, stay too far in the comfort zones and you bring little new to the table. Rebecca Laakso gets it just right mixing soul, R&B and pop to create the core sound and then infusing it with everything from jazz to gospel, funk to reggae, dance and even the occasional rock guitar but ending up with not only an album which hangs together perfectly but a sound that she can call her own.

This is more about late night vibes and early hours chill outs than clubland anthems

Fantastic wanders along on pop-reggae lines, Hello Baby is a grooving R&B hustle whilst the title track itself is a wonderfully staccato, soulful pop piece but one which plays its own game, prefers integrity and originality over the quick chart ride pay off. And it is the title track that sums up the album best in many ways.

 

If you are looking for the obvious, big dance floor hit, you might not find what you are looking for on this album, that isn’t Rebecca Laakso’s style. This is more about late night vibes and early hours chill outs than clubland anthems, it is about exploring where soul-pop goes next rather than just ramping up what has already been done. That is a brave thing to do and I think the result will be that Touching My Soul becomes a cult classic rather than a commercial smash, one that people discover, re-appraise and fall in love with over the coming years. But given that she has taken this long to get back in the game, I reckon she will be okay with that.

The obvious first album for today’s music industry? No. The perfect first album for the musical long game? Absolutely.

 

Listen on Spotify: TOUCHING MY SOUL

 

The Review

3.5 Score

Review Breakdown

  • 3.5
Tags: album reviewRebecca Laakso
Fieh live Fieh live Fieh live
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Dtroit Heavy LP album cover
Album Review

Heavy – D/troit

06/07/2022
Album cover with woman looking to the side
Album Review

Give Me Just a Minute – Ellah Grace

30/03/2022
Pink vinyl record
Album Review

Celebration – M-Rock & Wefunky Band

06/03/2022
Recored cover image
Album Review

Meet Me In My Dreams – Shenie Fogo

22/12/2021
Load More

Discover more

Les Imprimés playing guitar
Latest News

Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

01/02/2023
Dina Ögon
Latest News

Dina Ögon impress with a stunning dose of Swedish soul / Mormor

29/01/2023
Woman in shadow
Latest News

Jean Root covers a classic with class / Aint Nobody

26/01/2023
Prev Next

Archives

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

  • If you found the image arresting just wait till you hear the track! @tildaallie dropped her single - Say No last month and it’s contemporary blend of soul and hip hop is just as captivating as the image! Expect the unexpected here! Love it! ♥️
Follow @tildaallie and discover this UK based Swedish artist/producer 
*Edited and reposted*
#scandinaviansoul #tildaallie #newmusic #contemporary #swedishmusic #soulful
  • This new cover version by @saiesaiesoul took us in her arms and rocked us like a baby! ❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥
Her live recorded version adds a new dimension and energy to this classic and we love it!! ❤️❤️
Follow @saiesaiesoul 
#scandinaviansoul #soul #swedish #saiesaie #video #newmusic #disco #rockyoubaby
  • New music and fresh vibes are delivered by @bby.beige and her new single / över dig under dig. Prepare for the unexpected on this soulful single and we’re hoping there’s a video to this soon! 
Follow @bby.beige 
We’ve got a good feeling about where she’s headed. And that’s up! 🔥🔥

Little extra details…

  • Our services
  • My account
  • Customer Service
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Behind the scenes

  • ABOUT US
  • EVERYTHING SCANDINAVIAN SOUL IS AND ISN’T
  • JOIN OUR TEAM

stripe

© 2012-2022 scandinaviansoul.com. Design by 68-design.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Single / EP Reviews
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Soul Talk
  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Videos
  • Playlists
  • Artists / Bands
  • SOUL SHOP
  • Cart
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • About us
Close