other titles...
See also...
- Cold Little Heart
- Black Man In A White World
- Falling
- Place I Belong
- Love & Hate
- One More Night
- I'll Never Love
- Rule The World
- Father's Child
- The Final Frame
Michael Kiwanuka
Love & Hate
polydor
There’s so much to draw you into this impeccable, timeless modern-classic – and you’ll want to stay forever.
We paid attention to Michael Kiwanuka’s debut. Of course we did. However, we did not fall in love with him, as we’d hoped. That moment was to reserve itself for when we heard the very first note of the opening track on is follow-up ‘Love and Hate’. Oh my! What an opening it is too. It’s brave not to seduce us with his vocal from the outset but it makes the seduction all the more powerful. It’s a slow, alluring undressing. Just over 5 minutes into the languidly building souljam, Kiwanuka’s voice comes in…..and we’re hooked. That’s it right there. The magic has begun and we’ll be with him until the last note of this exceptional record fades away.
Sure, he channels the spirit of Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Isaac Hayes but with nods to Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ and production help from Inflo and the mighty Dangermouse, he’s weaving a more expansive, psychedelic, r‘n’b sound than you might expect. Most importantly, he’s got the songs……and lots of them. Every time you hear this record, another song will edge its way into pole position with the addictive melodies, spacious production, smooth guitar licks, subtly potent orchestral arrangements and choral support, all providing faultless accompaniment for Kiwanuka’s dynamic and honest vocal performances.
"As confident a second statement as you could wish for, full of strong melodies, affecting lyrics, sharp playing, immense arrangements and sympathetic production" - 5/5 mojo
"As both a candid portrait of introspection and an exciting step forward with his musical talent, Michael Kiwanuka's 'Love and Hate' beautifully captures the artistic power of vulnerability" - 9/10 line of best fit