Matthew E. White, Roundhouse

When Matthew E. White set up Spacebomb Records, he resurrected a forgotten model. In the 1960s, soul labels like Stax would have a house band, a group of resident musicians who’d play on all their releases. The result was a signature style: an instantly recognisable way of playing that lent the label its distinctive character.

To date, Spacebomb have put out six releases featuring their house band, including two of White’s own records, and two from the equally talented Natalie Prass. Theirs is a commendable project: a soulful, community-spirited approach to making music, and one which has resulted in some excellent releases.

White’s first full length album, Big Inner, took the press by storm; his voice, hushed yet commanding, smouldering expertly over warm horn-and-string arrangements. ‘Will You Love Me’ was an undoubted highpoint, slowly wending its way to way toward an exquisitely triumphant crescendo. ‘Darkness can’t drive out darkness,’ White proclaims amid a flurry of backing vocals, ‘only love can do that.’

In 2015, the impressively bearded singer put out his second album Fresh Blood, released by Domino rather than Spacebomb. The album begins woozily with ‘Take Care My Baby’: a rumbling bassline and hummed melody announcing White’s arrival. From then on, it doesn’t let up; whether an up-tempo paean or a piano-led ballad, the musicianship continually astounds.

On January 30, Matthew E. White and the Spacebomb house band descend on the Roundhouse as part of the venue's 'In the Round' series. For fans of soul and country, this is unmissable.