Bosq feat. Mendee Ichikawa – Never Feel Cold
While 2013 has been notable for the wealth of great music already released, something has been sorely lacking…tracks with handclaps. At various times I’ve mentioned my affinity and great weakness for a well placed soul clap, but in a year where it seems every single “retro” soul act has or will put out a record, soul claps have been mighty scarce. Filling that gap, and then some, is this offering from Boston’s Bosq of the Whiskey Barons production team. I’d first been drawn to this album because it features one of my favorite current vocalists Tita Lima, but once I finally made my way past her track (“Paciencia De Jo” which is truly stellar), I feel in love with this summertime stunner featuring sugary sweet vocals from Mendee Ichikawa (herself a part of the Long Beach collective Free Moral Agents) and soul claps for days and days and days and days.