Michael Kiwanuka – ‘Small Changes’ album review: cosmic British music
THE SKINNY: While former Byrd Gene Clark might have brought Gram Parsons’ idea of ‘Cosmic American Music’ to life on his masterpiece No Other, blending country, R&B, rock and gospel into an innovative and profoundly heady mix, Michael Kiwanuka has certainly cemented his British counterpart to the genre with his fourth album, Small Changes.
Although following up 2019’s world-renowned Kiwanuka would have been the undoing for other artists, particularly after moving out of your native city and having kids, but not the North London legend. Enlisting co-producers Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton and Sault’s Inflo, Kiwanuka has followed up his chef-d’oeuvre with another masterpiece, which rises into the air and replenishes your being like the aroma of a freshly boiled pot of coffee on a Sunday morning.
Blending his diverse influences into a mediative, dream-like palette that’s perfectly produced, with the warmth and natural emotion of his voice supported by the natural hue of analogue recording and deference to the greats of yesteryear; it’s the kind of body of work wherein you find your mind wandering and a serious sense of personal equilibrium restored. It provides escapism of the highest order and is the sonic rendering of the floating parade that inspired the song of the same name.
Flowing like a country stream unimpeded by the extraneous impact of man, Small Changes is one of those rare albums that engages you without you having to try too hard. It’s a testament to Kiwanuka’s aptitude and those of the producers and others who worked on the album that it engages the psyche within seconds, and the dreary, rain-soaked streets of London suddenly don’t seem depressing. It takes you anywhere you want to go: the verdant banks next to that serene waterway, the highways of California, and even outer space peering down at the Earth in all her glory.
For fans of: Mushroom trips in the summer and domestic bliss with your loved one.
A concluding comment from my inner demon: “Just chill out for a second, man, listen to this. You don’t need a drink. Kiwanuka’s voice is potent enough.”
Small Changes track by track:
Release Date: November 22nd | Producer: Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton / Inflo | Label: Polydor Records
‘Floating Parade’: A splendid way to kick off the album. It immediately wraps itself around you with the strums of the acoustic, celestial backing vocals and a hypnotic groove. [4.5/5]
‘Small Changes’: From one instant Kiwanuka classic to another. While definitely more melancholic than the opening number, the immersion is continued as the songwriter’s voice offers a heartfelt singalong: “Small changes on your mind…” It’s deep, certainly very cosmic, and the ending is just exceptional. [4.5/5]
‘One And Only’: The more you listen to this record, the more you realise just how fantastic it is across the board, with tracks such as ‘One And Only’ getting better with each play. Kiwanuka’s playing is fantastic, channelling flecks of John Frusciante, with the languid beat aptly expressive and his vocal performance once again stunning. [4.5/5]
‘Rebel Soul’: The only gripe I have with this song is that I wish it were ten minutes long. The repeated piano line sounds like it’s from a different dimension, with the breezy trip-hop beat and Kiwanuka’s vocals adding to a number that is about as arresting as you’re likely to hear. Just listen to that bass tone too, absolute fire. [5/5]
‘Lowdown (part I):’ The first part of this epic is exactly that. A number that slowly evolves, it has a brilliant chorus, stoned keys, and a slide guitar solo that typify this heavy Cosmic British Music angle. [4.5/5]
‘Lowdown (part II)’: Kicking off with swooning cinematic strings and more fantastic soloing from Kiwanuka, the second part of this piece is where things get immensely sensorily rewarding. It says it all that it’s an instrumental. [5/5]
‘Follow Your Dreams:’ A funky number featuring some brilliantly spacey synths, it carries on the immersion perfectly as Kiwanuka’s voice returns to lead us further into this trip. I wish I could be stoned on a beach right now. [4.5/5]
‘Live For Your Love’: This is a contender for the most refined moment on the record, featuring more warm-blooded strings, a generally cinematic vibe, and another piercing vocal from Kiwanuka. [4.5/5]
‘Stay By My Side’: Featuring more heady, summery flecks that whisk you away from the humdrum frozen clime of Britain to somewhere much more utopian, here Kiwanuka refreshes the influences of the 1970s for today once again. The strange, hammer-on riff that repeats in the background is also really interesting and speaks to his subtly innovative approach. [4/5]
‘The Rest Of Me’: For the beginning of the penultimate cut, Kiwanuka gets out the acoustic once more, heightening the earthy, authentic nature of Small Changes by blending the style of his early years with where he is now. Brilliantly, the cool funk inherent to this album soon follows it, thus confirming that he has never lost sight of himself. He also gets his Gene Clark on with the effects-drenched guitar and expert use of reverb that colours his voice in the climax. [4.5/5]
‘Four Long Years’: For the final song, Kiwanuka delves heavily into epic psychedelia as he leads us on one last lap around the Earth, with his spacious, melodic guitar playing absolutely delightful. It’s high time he’s afforded the guitar hero status. [4.5/5]
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