Deborah Bond‘s new album, Madam Palindrome, is one of the best indie soul albums doing the rounds at the moment. Jam-packed to the rafters with quality contemporary soul, Deborah and her band/production outfit Third Logic have delivered a scrumptious set that impresses with its consistency, depth and soul. Highlights abound on an album that will undoubtedly sit in many top 10s come the end of the year. It’s a varied set taking in ballads, midtempo shufflers and cuts aimed squarely at the dancefloor. There is resolutely no filler on this one, and Deborah even does the impossible and collaborates with cult hero Lewis Taylor on the funky If I Didn’t Need You. Apparently, this cut started its life just prior to Lewis’ retirement from the music business, illustrating just how long Madam Palindrome has been germinating. But good things come to those that wait, and for us soulies that have been craving new music from Deborah following 2003′s much lauded DayAfter, Madam Palindrome serves up an eleven course tasting menu to tantalise and satisfy the most demanding soulful palettes.

My personal favourites include, but are by no means limited to, the chunky opener Nothing Matters, the ethereal and contemplative stirring soul of Highest Mountain, the aforementioned crispy and clean funk of the Lewis Taylor collaboration If I Didn’t Need You, the Saturday night groover 5:35 and the snapping groove of the first single You Are The One.

Madam Palindrome engages both musically and lyrically, setting the bar high with a sophisticated and cohesive set of soulful cuts. I’ve been listening to it consistently for the past couple of months and recommend it without reservation.

You can pick up Madam Palindrome at iTunes.