Lowdown (Parts I & II) is the second single to promote Michael Kiwanuka's 4th album, Small Changes, out on 15th November.
By coincidence, I was listening to I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun by The New Rotary Connection beforehand and it was pretty much the perfect primer.
Some of the YouTube comments for Lowdown also make much of the Pink Floyd influences, but as always Kiwanuka's skill is in taking all of the ingredients and cooking up something fresh and nourishing. Noel and Liam, take note.
The instrumental Part II soars into the stratosphere and the video, directed by duo Tom Andrew and Sam Davis aka BLACKWALL, is sublime in its simplicity, basically a boy on his bike in slomo, but oh so beautifully done.
I completely missed preceding single Floating Parade last month, but it ploughs similar soil, ethereal backing vocals gliding over singing strings and, in both cases, an infectious bassline that propels the groove forwards. Again, the Phillip Youmans-directed video is a visual delight.
Watching Michael Kiwanuka live is always a treat, albeit one for me that is currently limited to TV screens. This year's Glastonbury set was no exception as this performance of Rule The World from 2016 album Love & Hate demonstrates. And, as if things couldn't get any better, Michael is joined on stage by the wonderful Lianne La Havas. What a team up.
You can pre-order Small Changes from all of the usual friendly retailers.
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