With a blast of brass, a steady beat and a huge sounding soul riff, The Inciters arrive with all guns blazing on ‘I Give You My Soul’. The ten piece band grab the listeners’ attention immediately by sounding like the ultimate show band on the really hook-laden ‘Give Me’, and the arrangement’s great brass sounds extend way beyond making a first impression. An equally huge trombone and trumpet combo fills the instrumental breaks of this EP’s opening number, and underscored with a great bassline, there are moments where the ghosts of Lee Fields recordings come through, and the influence of the Daptone horns is more than evident. The Inciters put their own stamp on an old soul sound, of course, and Katrina Grube’s light influence from melodic jazz is also shared with great effect. Throughout these three minutes, she breathes a sound into a great lyric and an enormous hook. This is one of those numbers to which the phrase “kitchen sink production” very much applies, and if you’ve had any interest in The Inciters’ work prior to this, you’ll love this track.

Dropping in more of a ringing guitar tone, ‘A Hundred Faces’ hints at more of a 60s pop-rock sound in places, but this doesn’t ever detract from how tight The Inciters can sound, and Sabi Kendrick’s vocals sound like a perfect fit against the uptempo jangle. A further leaning towards 60s sounds comes via a lead guitar break with a shrill tone and great twang, but it’s not as if the band have completely abandoned their love of soul. The brass peppers a great melody throughout, almost appearing to keep everything moving at a couple of points, and an incredible bassline – presented very highly in the end mix – reworks the busy style of the classic Northern Soul sound. A few plays actually uncovers a track that’s catchier than it first seems; it’s got all the makings of a friendly Summer hit for those listeners who find themselves constantly drawn towards the mod-friendly end of the soul spectrum.

With more a touch of old rock ‘n’ roll creeping in, ‘I’m Alright’ shares a buzzing guitar riff throughout, but the increase of volume in this department – particularly notable during a guitar solo that sounds like something from an old Shoes or Rubinoos record – doesn’t mean The Inciters’ love for soul is completely sidelined. The brass interjections work brilliantly throughout, often sounding like something from Mustard Plug at their peak (despite not venturing anywhere punky), and the lead vocals are typically enthusiastic, which leads to the kind of track that long time Inciters fans will accept in the party spirit it’s been offered. ‘Dark’, meanwhile, opts for something slow and sultry, blending blues, jazz and torch singer elements seamlessly, showing off an uncharacteristically subtle band. It very much changes the tone, but between a superb vocal (this time highlighting the talents of Rizzie Vacketta), some reverbed guitar and moody trombone work, the sound of a “late night” Inciters really works when approached in the right frame of mind.

Scaling back even more of the brass to showcase a perfectly applied rhythm guitar and buoyant bass, ‘How Can I Make It Without You’ is a near faultless homage to late 60s Northern Soul sounds. The way that wheezing sax and trombone colour the strident rhythm sets up a very authentic backing, creating something that fans of the style will feel drawn to in a heartbeat. Despite the feel good rhythm and a few brass fills that sound like the direct descendants of Dexys equally retro ‘Geno’, it’s the vocals that really shine here. The call and response between a strong lead vocal – featuring some very Cher-like moments from Rizzie – and a harmonious backing that evokes a number of 60s greats goes a very long way to making this one of the greatest Inciters tracks ever.

Hitting audiences everywhere just a few weeks after their ‘Bring Back The Weekend’ 7” (a release made up of previously exclusive material, none of which is reproduced here), ‘I Give You My Soul’ captures a really fiery sounding Inciters. There are a couple of moments where the sound of such a huge band is perhaps a little too huge, but very much on the plus side, ‘How Can I Make It Without You’ is an instant classic, worth the price of admission alone. For those who’ve previously been rather taken by The Inciters’ lovably retro sounds, this EP will definitely become a favourite.

April/May 2025