Durand Jones and the Indications: American Love Call (Dead Oceans)

Across orchestrated originals, this band out of Indiana evoke the spiritual ache of Gil Scott Heron (the bleak realism of Morning in America “and I can't see the dawn”), classic Motown falsetto (Don't You Know, Too Many Tears and Court of Love is Smokey/Temptations with drummer Aaron Frazer taking lead vocals on the dreamy latter two), Philly influences (Circles reminds of the O'Jays) and Stax soul.

Very pleasant and accomplished retro-soul, but when the original classics are still out there you do wonder why.