Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes

In one of those blink-and-miss it cameos, British soul singer Kiwanukahad momentary cameo in the Danny Boyle-Richard Curtis 2019 film Yesterday.

Not that he needed the publicity, it arrived the same year his self-titled third album picked up the Mercury Prize.

London-born to Ugandan immigrants, he had worked in studio sessions, released a couple of EPs, then came out the gates fast and seemingly fully formed: before his 2012 Mercury Prize-nominated debut album Home Again he'd opened for Adele on her 2011 tour.

His acclaimed second album Love & Hate sprung the exceptional Black Man in a White World and Cold Little Heart (the theme for the television series Big Little Lies).

Tapping the spirits of Gil Scott-Heron, Otis Redding and especially Marvin Gaye – while acknowledging the ambient sound of guitarist David Gilmour and inspirational orchestration -- Kiwanuka proved very quickly he was more than the sum of his many influences.

And mentioning Van Morrison's classic period isn't amiss either. 

The five years since his last album haven't disrupted his distinctive sound but the small changes of the title include languid slacker-folk (Lowdown Part 1), Smokey Robinson's midnight heartache (Four Long Years) and hints of gentle country and fat synths (Follow Your Dreams) on profound songs of broken love and fidelity.

Kiwanuka's persuasive voice, understated spirituality and comforting messages are a warm and welcome balm.

Again.

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You can hear this album at selected digital outlets.