Heads up #78 - Michael Kiwanuka

I take great pride at being one of the first if not the first blog to post about a wonderful London based songwriter called Michael Kiwanuka. At the time - headspinning in a whirlwind of folky soulful blues - I predicted imminent greatness, and I have to confess I have been impatiently awaiting for the first recorded output since the bedroom demos that Catapulted him onto some serious radars.

Out on Communion record Michael debut single; the "tell me a tale ep" actually took me by surprise to start with - more than anything with it's widescreen nature - with no restrictions on budget or studio, Kiwanuka (along with producer Paul from The Bees whos studio committed these songs to doubtlessly vintage reel to reel tape) have created a lush orchestration of sound to coat Michals rich, soulful vocals - all wafting zithers and sweeping strings that feels like there's no way in the world that this record could have been made in 2011.

Rich and organic and bursting at every seam with a wide eyed confidence that is somehow at odds with the humble unassuming man behind the voice, it's a bold opening salvo; one that defies any contemporary reference you could put against it - already this feels accomplished enough to sit alongside names like Marvin Gaye with no shred of irony or overstatement.

For all the new found depths recently added to the KIwanuka sound, the vocals still sound most affecting on third track "worries walk beside me", tremulously woven around a Spartan guitar line and adding weight to the notion of the man being equally at home within the blues as within lush soul.

Expectation duly raised ever further, then debut album which I believe is being recorded as we speak should be something really special.