Michael Kiwanuka returns with his fifth album, Fudge, arriving during a difficult period defined by a serious health issue and a long stop to tour and concerts, Indie For Bunnies reported.
Recording Without Restraints
The tracks for Fudge were completed before the musician revealed in September that he had suffered a stroke, an event requiring months of rehabilitation and a prolonged stop to live performances. Conceived and recorded simultaneously alongside Small Changes, the new record captures Kiwanuka taking control of his creative direction. The songs showcase an artist leaning into his instincts and personal taste, operating free from external expectations or the anxieties he has frequently acknowledged facing.
Clocking in at roughly an hour, the album opens with the voice of Chick Corea, establishing a thematic tone centered on pursuing what is genuine and compelling. From there, the collection unfolds through a series of contrasting sonic textures. The soft orchestral ballad “Summer Clothes,” featuring an arrangement by Rosie Danvers, highlights Kiwanuka’s vocals, a quality also central to the melancholic “California” and the nostalgic cuts “Just Another Moment” and “Drowning In Your Heart.”
Expanding the Sonic Palette
Soul and R&B anchor the first half of “Love In My Heart” before the track shifts into a psychedelic, space-faring excursion driven by guitarist Michael Jablonka, followed swiftly by the alt-folk leanings of “Across The Sky.” Working without the support of Danger Mouse and Inflo, Kiwanuka guides the arrangements into dreamy territory. Cuts like “Steve’s Paradise” stretch between five and seven minutes, forming a deliberate, thoughtful sequence alongside the riffs of “Stars” and the acoustic guitar work on “You Sent Me Flying.”
Rounding out the tracklist, the emotional weight of “Move In My Direction” and “Sing,” paired with the direct lyricism of “Swings And Roundabouts,” solidify Fudge as a cohesive, highly accomplished release.
🆕 MICHAEL KIWANUKA 🆕the new album 'FUDGE' will be here soon and there's a special Dinked Edition to pre-order at https://t.co/dRJdYJkDq1 pic.twitter.com/xawV6qzDWc
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JUST IN! 'FUDGE' by Michael KiwanukaThe Mercury-bagging UK soul favourite delivers the FUDGE.On LP, CD, and mint green coloured vinyl.https://t.co/jNuk5Ukcd0 pic.twitter.com/zwSbNwKbg5
