Contrary to what maybe seen as being impossible, from time to time I arrive late to the party with a release and have to double back to make sure that readers here at Nostalgia King are in the know. Last November, ahead of their February 2024 album, Soul Sugar featuring Shniece released “Top Of My List” a lovely reggae double-sider 7″ that I now need to get my hands on to put into heavy rotation.
With that 7″ making it’s debut, this month Guillaume Metenier is set to release his fourth studio album as Soul Sugar, a collaborations-powered project that showcases the talented producer and organist’s authentic musical fusions of dub, reggae, soul-jazz, funk and neo-soul. Top Of My List was edited down from the extended album version and is the first collaboration between Metenier and rising star Shniece McMenamin, a London-based soul singer best-known for her work with dub maestro Prince Fatty. On ‘Top of My List’, she delivers an impeccably emotive lead vocal, perfectly delivering her own thoughtful and insightful lyrics.
Combined with a languid, sun-kissed reggae backing track rich in Metenier’s superb instrumentation and fluid guitar licks courtesy of Samuel Isoard, Shniece’s vocals help make ‘Top of My List’ one of Soul Sugar’s most enchanting singles to date.