Album Review: Michael Kiwanuka, Small Changes

The gilded production triumvirate – Danger Mouse, Inflo and Michael Kiwanuka himself – that helmed MK’s UK No.1 Love & Hate, and the Mercury-winning Kiwanuka, are back at the controls on Small Changes. Add to that a remarkable ensemble featuring legendary bassist Pino Palladino and Jimmy Jam of Jam and Lewis, and it’s quite the dream team.

Do they all fit together? You bet – perfectly, like the proverbial glove. As the album title suggests, they don’t go reinventing the wheel, but on Small Changes, Kiwanuka is rawer than ever before. Album closer ‘Four Long Years’ – MK warbling for true love now lost – is a lesson in treading a groove. Sonic bedfellows ‘Lowdown (part i)’ & ‘Lowdown (part ii)’ are about as lo-fi as Kiwanuka’s ever got.

For good measure, the brace of tracks also make inspired use of an ethereal soul choir, a Gilmour-esque guitar solo, audience applause and classical strings.

Elsewhere, ‘Floating Parade’ is a production masterclass demanding repeated excavation. Press repeat...

8/10