Speedometer, one of the most successful UK funk & soul bands of the last decade, attain the next level of their musical ascendancy with the release this brand new studio album on Freestyle Records. Having spearheaded the resurgence in deep, gritty funk and soul for 10 years, as well as working with Eddie Bo, Marva Whitney, Sharon Jones, Billy Wooten, and Sir Joe Quartermain amongst a list of many musical legends, and selling out tours of Europe and the Far East as well as a string of authentically rootsy albums and singles, this is the album where all that experience and hard work reaches its deeply soulful zenith! The Shakedown marks a step change in the groups sound and style, featuring more vocal led songs, a wider musical horizon, the vocals of regular Speedometer vocalist Ria Currie and very special guests Myles Sanko, Natasha Watts, The Stilhouettes and former James Brown singer, Martha High! The album kicks off with the drum & synth intro of Again & Again, as Natasha Watts voice reaches the places precious few other contemporary singers can, as funky, breathy flute riffs over this floor shaking rhythm. Percussion hero Snowboy contributes his hard handed talents on several tracks including the fiercely forceful latin soul outings La Nueva Manera and Orisha. Freestyle Records label mates Andy Fairclough from The Root Source also contributes clavinet and harmonica, and join John Wilmot and Neil Robinson of The Perceptions in this funky family affair! Lover & A Friend is a fantastic reworking of the Eddie Bo classic that has already seen the light of day as a 45 single (FSR7063), the vocals of regular singer Ria Currie and guest Myles Sanko who voices blend just oh so beautifully on this deeply funkatious track that also of course also boasts a wonderfully hip video to go with it! Click here to see the fantastic video of 'Lover & A Friend' A superbly executed version of You've Made Me So Very Happy allows Ria Currie to display the full strength of her talents, before she steps aside to let US soul royalty Martha High do her thing on the super catchy title track The Shakedown, ably assisted by special guest Myles Sanko. Martha also leads the charge on Dragging Me Down, the track with the storming and stomping Northern Soul style beat and blistering horns. This is just one of the many highlights that will surely cement Speedometers reputation as THE 21st Century powerhouse of soulful, funk and latin tinged grooves! The Shakedown is without doubt the strongest, most varied & accomplished Speedometer album to date, brimming with soul, beautiful songs and that unrelenting, deep groove that Leigh Gracie and the gang do so well! * Features guests Myles Sanko, Natasha Watts and Martha High * Speedometer have a UK tour in support of this release