More about: Joel Culpepper

While he may be paraphrasing The Fab Four, Joel Culpepper evokes the sound and spirit of artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo on his new album Sgt Culpepper. Formative references include childhood memories of Teddy Pendergrass on his parent’s turntable, influences of gospel from church and discovering Prince and neo-soul. After schooling in performing arts, early opportunities to sign with major labels knocked but weren’t answered, the album’s press release mentions that he “believes that that early near-miss might have been the best thing to happen to him, allowing him to stay true to the kind of compassionate artist he wants to be”. 

Staying independent, in 2017 he released Tortoise containing breakthrough track ‘Woman’, but the pressure to deliver a career defining follow-up album created what he calls “a kind of perfectionist-procrastination”. It’s a lot of weight to put on a record. A lot of people were involved in getting ‘Sgt Culpepper’ to where it is, with features, co-productions and credits from (deep breath) Guy Chambers, Raf Rundell, Tom Misch, Redinho, Kay Young, Linden Jay, Shawn Lee, Joker and songwriter & producer Jimmy Hogarth. It’s quite a squad. Strength in depth, maybe, but on paper it could be a headache to combine into a cohesive team. Crucially it’s been the talented producer/musician Swindle, a close collaborator and friend since Tortoise, acting as executive producer, who’s been a pivotal guide on this journey, shaping this team to help achieve Culpepper’s overall vision. 

With its modern take on vintage soul and funk, with bold concepts, conscious lyrics and a loosely psychedelic edge, ‘Sgt Culpepper’ could be filed alongside Plantlife’s The Return Of Jack Splash, Q-Tips’ Kamaal The Abstract project or Childish Gambino’s Awaken My Love in feel—all complementary neighbours.

Following the rules of bold concepts, the album is split into four sections: the battle, the surrender, the love and the lesson, guiding the listener through a process of acceptance and healing. We travel through the inner-mind cinematic soul soundtrack ‘Tears Of A Crown’, the strident-funk of ‘W.A.R’, venting frustration via smooth-jazz-funk on ‘Dead Bodies’, and ‘Break', which simultaneously addresses the mess of post-Brexit life and a struggling romantic relationship. Positive and uplifting, the imperative ‘Remember’ is a pick-me-up we all need.

‘Black Boy’ references a story from when Culpepper worked in schools as a learning mentor for young people with challenging behavioural needs. “I kept going back to this one memory of a boy I worked with, this one morning when he was running late, He had his older sister's leopard-print coat, a pink lunchbox, these ankle-swinger trousers with no socks on...bowling through the playground with such an air of confidence about him. He was just head forward, bowling through. I'll never forget me turning around to the other teachers and going 'he's got it, int he?' Like fair play mate, you've sussed out life. That lived with me; we spend our whole adulthoods trying to find ways to be that uninhibited, and he’d cracked it at 10 years old.”

Sgt Culpepper might have been a big pop album made with a big pop team but vitally it’s been produced in a “music first + people first” family fashion and an obviously deep love and respect for the influences and inspirations absorbed into its being. That independent streak carved out from way back wins out and the friendship/directorship of the Culpepper and Swindle team-up is a clear strength.  Regardless of its 20th century influences, Sgt Culpepper avoids being retro and perhaps because of them it’s also neither trapped in the moment or reaching for the future. Timeless? Maybe. Only time will tell. The talented Culpepper clearly has it in him. Many will be wanting to hear where he goes next but for now Sgt Culpepper has delivered an excellent album as he’d hoped.

Sgt Culpepper is out now.

More about: Joel Culpepper