Sublime third album by the British singer-songwriter, actor and 2015 Mercury winner, whose powerful, expressive, soul and gospel voice brims with elegance and stark emotion in stripped back, tender songs that capture many forms of pain, but also defiantly soar. There are many influences here, from learning classical pieces by ear as a child, this album decorated with orchestral strings with some subtle electronica and piano, to busking on the streets of Paris which must have helped form his unaccompanied voice. His music oozes class from start to finish. From the stripped back opener Residue, the orchestrations on Delighted, or particularly the playful waltz rhythm of Genesis, with the repeated line “we’re trapped and free”. On Atonement, and Weakend, for example, he feels live the living embodiment of Nina Simone. Last Movement of Hope is another melancholy piano piece, and Copening is particularly beautiful, gentle piano accompanied song. A gorgeous piece of work, heartfelt and seriously good in form, tone and subject. Out on his own label Preserve Artists.
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