A fourth album by the Mercury prize-winner, another gorgeously crafted and performed set of songs drawing on 70s soul and slowly simmering psychedelic rock, and the third produced by Danger Mouse and Inflo. It’s less grand and richly orchestral than his acclaimed self-titled release from 2019, and while that superb soul landmark had comparisons with Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers, this is slightly more stripped back, but with a wonderfully warm guitar and vocal sound, and has a particular influence, Byrds singer-songwriter Gene Clark’s 1974 album No Other. But on Small Changes there’s no shortage of sublime songs and moments - the dream-like opener Floating Parade, the title track, the rippling piano of Rebel Soul, the gentle Stay By My Side, or closer Four Long Years, but most of all, the superbly paced, fabulously unfolding chord changes, melody and and warmth of Lowdown Parts 1 and 2, the two tracks flowing into each other. A piece of perfection by one of the most talented, complete and creatively mature British artists of the past decade. Out on Polydor / Universal.
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