This bunch (and they are a bunch – not just Smoove & Turrell) are often held up as one of the most feted bands in the region and with good reason. They play funk that positively sizzles, and on their latest they’re really cutting loose with a sterling collection of bangers that are topped by Turrell’s CeeLo Green-like vocals. From the gospel-tinged opener ‘The Light’ to the disco-dusted ‘Joy!’ to the sumptuous closer ‘Red Ellen’ (which references Ellen Wilkinson, a Labour politician who played a prominent role in the Jarrow March) this is a release from an outfit at the very top of their game. Whether you’re listening to it on the dance floor or in the kitchen, this is an album to cherish.

Out now on Jalapeno Records