Kiwanuka's voice resembles Terry Callier's closely enough to warrant Butler virtually aping Charles Stepney's production style. Standouts include the opening "Tell Me a Tale," the set's strongest cut. Kiwanuka and Butler play an astonishing array of instruments here, and are ably assisted by select session players elsewhere. There are very bright moments in this mesh of organic sounds (that are occasionally embellished - very slightly - by Moogs). A throwback approach is his signature and, considering what Polydor wanted, may actually seem warranted given Kiwanuka's wise-beyond-his-years singing voice and songwriting style. The Bees' Paul Butler produced all but one track here. From the front cover you can see - then hear - how everything about this album and Kiwanuka's image is laser-focused on the retro pop and soul vibe that saturates his country's music scene. Michael Kiwanuka is the promising British singer/songwriter who won the BBC Sound of 2012 poll. These days, the expectations for someone to deliver out of the gate are ridiculous. Some labels even signed "prestige artists," those who wouldn't necessarily make boatloads of cash, but their presence on one's roster would attract those who would. An age ago, major labels signed artists knowing it would take three, four, or even five records before she or he matured sufficiently to build a a dedicated audience.
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