The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicAlbum reviews

Michael Kiwanuka – Love and Hate

Michael Kiwanuka – Love and Hate | Album review
21 July 2016
Molly Lempriere
Avatar
Molly Lempriere
21 July 2016

Music review

Molly Lempriere

Michael Kiwanuka - Love and Hate

★★★★★

Release date

15th July 2016

Highlights

Love and Hate, Cold Little Heart, Final Frame

Links

Twitter Facebook Website

Michael Kiwanuka returns with Love and Hate, his take on the famously tricky second album, especially following the success of Home Again in 2012. Above all, it is Kiwanuka’s signature vocals that stand out, the depth and warmth of his voice smouldering throughout, reminiscent of Bill Withers. From his beautiful ten-minute soundscape, Cold Little Heart, to Final Frame, the swaying, distorted guitar-filled, final glorious cry of the album, this work is a testament to Kiwanuka’s style and skill.

The first single to be released from Love and Hate has already been proving a success: Black Man in a White World is an up-tempo expression of frustration. It starts with a simple clapped beat and solo voice, very reminiscent of slave songs, the sound of which continues throughout. The title, repeated behind Kiwanuka’s contradicting lyrics, gives a feeling of confusion, an unsettling lack of solidity in emotion and experience.

Slower and more mournful, Love and Hate, is full of lush strings and soft female harmonies. With stripped-back instrumentation, Kiwanuka’s vocals seem exposed and vulnerable as the number builds in speed, complexity and a sense of dissatisfaction. The guitar solo is rough and raw, the distorted interlude perfect, before the song cuts back to its simple origins. This title track is incredibly well thought through and constructed, satisfying to listen to in its emotional progression.

Here is an album packed full of pain and joy, a wealth of soul searching and the angst and vexation that has poured forth, making it a more mature offering than Home Again. Predominantly, it is based around the same acoustic guitar lines and Kiwanuka’s classic soul singing, but production from Danger Mouse and Inflo has given the accompaniment of sophistication without any loss of style. This has allowed a great sense of space throughout the record, taking the listener with Kiwanuka through his raw, personal exploration.

★★★★★

Molly Lempriere

Love and Hate is released on 15th July 2016, for further information or to order the album visit here.

Watch the video for Black Man in a White World here:

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Related Itemsreview

More in Album reviews

Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Julien Baker – Little Oblivions

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Smith & Burrows – Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Bradford – Bright Hours

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – Hunter and the Dog Star

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Mogwai – As the Love Continues

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

David Gray – Skellig

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Tash Sultana – Terra Firma

★★★★★
Musanna Ahmed
Read More

Pale Waves – Who Am I?

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Music review

Molly Lempriere

Michael Kiwanuka - Love and Hate

★★★★★

Release date

15th July 2016

Highlights

Love and Hate, Cold Little Heart, Final Frame

Links

Twitter Facebook Website

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Creation Stories
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild
    Theatre
  • Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Swordsman
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Handsome
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality
    Food & Drinks
  • Black Bear
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Jumbo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality
    Food & Drinks
  • Da Capo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • My Favourite War
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Typical at Soho Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Summer 2016: Five must-see theatre shows in London
Different Class at the Barons Court Theatre | Theatre review