Jamie Lidell and The Royal Pharaohs Dig Up Some Soul

The British singer Jamie Lidell captivates huge audiences just by sampling and looping his own voice, then deploying smooth soul over the top of the cascading layers. But surely, firing all those samples and stompboxes gets a little distracting for a performer. Like, maybe, just get a band? Well that’s what Lidell has done—and what a band. The proof is in the first single from his forthcoming record with The Royal Pharaohs, Building a Beginning. “Walk Right Back” has Lidell's trademark croon, but the live feel of a crack ensemble—all of which packs into the Soundcheck studio for a live set.