Album: The Brand New Heavies, Forward (Heavytone)

The roots of English bands who followed US funk and soul can't help but show through. Old tracks by Soul II Soul/Caron Wheeler now sound as "London" as Madness, and the solid yeoman-grooves of funk-plumbers the Heavies seem quaint and paisley-foppish on this first studio album for six years.

They're reunited with vocalist N'Dea Davenport but don't really need her, their dressing-up-to-go-out groove being the thing.