today's sexy retro soul for the future heartbroken

Extra newsflash, De Morgen, summer 2013: '4/5, top album that oozes potential, and contains enough hits to keep the radio occupied for the rest of the year.' They're talking about the latest release by Mayer Hawthorne, who is clearly verging on the brink of the big breakthrough.

Mayer Hawthorne has a bit of difficult name, but his music is super sexy and throbs with infectious soul. Blue Eyed Soul, as that sub-genre used to be called (see too: Hall & Oates, Robert Palmer, George Michael... that disco tradition.)

Mayer Hawthorne is a pale American with a dark heart. Now on to his second major release with the CD 'Where Does This Door Go' (via Universal, with super-fun teaser below.)

What we've been able to hear on forerunners 'A Strange Arrangement' and 'How Do You Do' also has us suspecting the best and hottest for the new material and the live-concert.

This is the Mayer who replaces the O in stage name Hawthorne with a broken heart. Who, in clips like 'Your Easy Lovin', gets to frolic with the most beautiful models. But this is also the impressive singer-instrumentalist who already did a duet with Snoop, sang on the title-track of Booker T's new 'Sound The Alarm', received recognition from top-producer Mark Ronson, or who manages to puts out a very credible version of e.g. E.L.O.'s Mr Blue Sky inbetween all those other activities.

Fan of Motown, Philly Sound and other soul-gold? Mayer Hawthorne clearly is, through . You too?