Spectreview: Michael Kiwanuka – KIWANUKA

-MAGENTA-

For a guide to the review color rating system, click here.

“Final days on the planet
Here we are, on the ground
Every day, automatic
Here we are, goin’ ’round and ’round and ‘round”

Michael Kiwanuka may not be doing much that’s “current” on his self-titled third album, but the genre-hopping deep soul of KIWANUKA infers it isn’t concerned with current trends. Instead, it’s an exquisite dive into comforting, Daptone-esque waters, blending classic psychedelic rock with the warmth of Marvin Gaye’s late 60’s triumphs, with just a sprinkle of AOR ambition. Suffice it to say, it’s a record made to be spun on vinyl. Kiwanuka’s voice is as soft and sultry as ever, with a rich austerity that wraps around words with a careful attention to enunciation. It’s showy, but on KIWANUKA it doesn’t overshadow the richness of his backing band, which frames his voice with lush, ornate strings and orchestrated wonderments. The impressiveness lies more in the bare-laden choices than in the actual memorability of Kiwanuka’s melodies, but a few tracks do immediately stand out: the militant bop of “Hero,” the stark spotlighting of “Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love),” and the soul-beating bongos and backing vocal splendor of “You Ain’t The Problem,” among others. Otherwise the quality’s consistency high, with gorgeous production courtesy of Danger Mouse and Inflo; together they give Kiwanuka’s voice ample space amid the orchestral maximalism of the music itself. That voice, besides the album’s framing as a suite of tracks (long considered a cheat code for cohesion) helps bring every distinct style together into a definitive statement. There’s only a couple of places where Kiwanuka’s ambition feels a bit misplaced – between two intros and one full-length interlude, something can be cut – and there are occasional lapses into blasé, syrupy-sweet singer-songwriter moments, but counterbalancing all of this is the wealth of feeling he’s able to pull out of such simple parts. It’s a gift that’s not new to this artist, but the soul-drenched anguish of KIWANUKA shows how good he’s gotten at this critical skill.

Recommended for inhaling the city.