Smooth, mellow, sighing, self-healing, candid, with many nods to his faith, the third album by the south London rapper is far from his edgier grime origins, and particularly mixes soul, R&B and spoken word alongside gospel choir and keyboards. “You gave me peace and purpose / Although I don’t deserve it, although I’m far from perfect,” he intones on Holy Spirit, sums up the tone of this album. The title track contains the most potent rapping, while I Got My Smile Back is perhaps the most personal in struggles with mental health: “Me and loneliness kick it from time to time …She knows the deal, that I ain’t hers and she ain’t mine / Me and joy got tighter, that was overdue.” Stormzy isn’t the strongest singer, he’s more of a gentle talking crooner, but the words come across as genuine. It’s a soothing record, created on the isolated Osea Island in Essex, and feels like an artist coming to terms with his success seeking to write a letter to recapture love in all forms, not only in relationships (see Fire & Water - “I’m not the man today you met”) but also in the creativity of making music. Further tracks of note - Hide & Seek, Firebabe and the gentle closing piano track Give It To the Water with vocalist Debbie Ehirim. Out on Def Jam / #Merky Music.
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