143546, alright: let's go back to the roots here. Posted by Orfeo_Negro, Thu Jun-24-10 10:27 PM
What is currently known as the UK Soul Sound (not counting the Northern Soul and stuff like that) has its roots in the late 1970s and early 80s jazz-funk scene. That's why UK soul tends to have that sophisticated, jazzy sound to it (or used to, anyway).
(I think Freeez in its original formation provided the template of the sound and feel that many Americans would come to associate with British soul by the end of the 80s--laidback, jazzy instrumentation with dramatic changes and cool, detached female vocals)