
A ten-minute odyssey of psychedelic soul that builds from a cinematic orchestral overture into a raw, heart-wrenching plea for emotional survival.
February 24, 2017 · Polydor (2)
Cold Little Heart is less a traditional soul single and more a sprawling, psychedelic epic that demands total immersion. It begins with a nearly five-minute instrumental overture that feels like a lost 1970s film score, blending the space-rock textures of Pink Floyd with the symphonic soul of Isaac Hayes. The production is thick with analog warmth, featuring weeping strings and a fuzzy, melodic guitar line that sets a tone of profound yearning before a single word is even spoken. It is a masterclass in tension and release, building a world of sonic fog that slowly clears to reveal Michael Kiwanuka's vulnerable, gravelly baritone.
How does Cold Little Heart sound next to the rest of Michael Kiwanuka's catalogue?
Melancholic saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.
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