The Delfonics

Aficionados of sophisticated, sweet and sensual soul music need no introduction to William Hart. He's the leader and prominent songwriter of legendary trio the Delfonics (originally featuring his brother, Wilbert, and the late Randy Cain as well), which helped put Philadelphia on the map as a soul music capitol in the late '60s and early '70s, with a string of classics like "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and "La-La-Means I Love You." While even the babies conceived to those luxurious grooves are pushing midlife at this point, Hart's voice has aged like fine wine on his collaboration with multi-instrumentalist/producer Adrian Younge. Best known for his score to 2009's spot-on Blaxploitation homage Black Dynamite, Younge orchestrates a darkly cinematic, hip-hop-influenced soundscape on Presents. Though a bit short at 36 minutes, there isn't a weak track to be heard. "Stop and Look (And You Have Found Love)" and "Silently" update the tried-and-true formula of sweet Philly soul with some welcome thump without sacrificing a whit of Hart's timeless vocal style and tender lyrics. While "Enemies" is a dense, paranoiac fantasia (call it "Backstabbers" 2013) that classic soul fans and hip-hop heads alike will find irresistible.