Most people retire when they reach 65, but for former chef Charles Bradley, that is unthinkable. The singer has just released a new album: Victim Of Love (Daptone Records). In recent years, Bradley has made it clear that he is not just another James Brown tribute artist. For example, when he played for a highly critical audience at the Lowlands Festival in 2012, when every word he sang seemed to have deeply personal roots. Although he also showed glimpses of influences from Sam Cooke, James Brown and Otis Redding, he was completely himself. Bradley has a powerful and gravelly voice that is ideally suited to conveying raw emotions. He sings tender soul ballads as well as rough, up-tempo soul-funk. Charles Bradley gives a spectacular show and he will certainly do so this time with his seven-man band Extraordinaires. No sign of retirement for this phenomenon of soul.
