First found on collaborations with Tru Thoughts labelmates Quantic, and TM Juke, if you haven’t heard Alice Russell yet you're missing out on one of the best singers around. Russell’s singing is classically soulful, with vocal finesse rarely heard these days. She’s a throwback to the era of fully-developed vocal talents like Aretha Franklin and Patti Labelle, a singer’s singer.

Under The Munka Moon II is the second compilation of remixes, outtakes, live versions, and cover versions from the prolific young soul singer. Covering live soul, broken beat, jazz, funk, reggae, and d&b, the album begs the question, is there any kind of music this woman does not sound amazing over? If there is, I haven’t heard it yet. David Mancuso’s Loft favorite “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This,” penned by jazz drummer Idris Muhammad, gets the broken soul treatment from Bugz In The Attic, and a fresh mellow approach from Russell. “Don’t You Worry,” originally recorded for the Wah Wah 45s label, is a deep downtempo soul groover with equal parts vintage and future soul. And on “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know” she tackles the gut-wrenching Donny Hathaway ballad (that most singers should not even attempt) with ease and originality.

In stores 18 August 2006, preorder from Amazon, or the full album is now exclusively available for download from Dancetracks Digital. Also available: Under the Munka Moon I and My Favourite Letters.

Also on Cool Hunting: DJ Scribe