About
“Michael Kiwanuka’s second album, Love & Hate, is a sustained, stylized plunge into despair: plaints of isolation, doubt, lovelessness, racial injustice, longing, hopelessness and a certain resolve despite it all” – The New York Times
“British singer Michael Kiwanuka did more than just broaden his sound on his second album. He created a whole new musical hybrid: Spaghetti Western Soul.” – Entertainment Weekly
“Kiwanuka’s vocals are as tender as ever, yet laced with a heavy dose of attitude. This is full-throated soul with swagger.” – NPR
Soulful and raw, Londoner Michael Kiwanuka’s critically-acclaimed debut album Home Again (April 2012) staked his claim on the list of great British singer-songwriters. As a body of work, Home Again was a genre-defying nod to the heritage names of soul, and reinforced the real strength of young British music talent.
Having taken a deep breath and relaxed into his musical approach, Kiwanuka is back, and has delivered his eagerly anticipated second album – and it packs a powerful punch. If his last album was about returning home again, this is about leaving it behind and stepping out – and finding himself outside his comfort zone. Love & Hate is an outward-looking, drenched with emotional density and rich, soulful production at the helm.
Quote
from the title track “Love & Hate”
“I can see a place of trouble
And I’m on the verge
For the love of everybody
I need something more
Now I feel some days of trouble
I’m in the house of war
For the love of everybody
Look behind the wall
Standing now
Calling all the people here to see the show
Calling for my demons now to let me go
I need something, give me something wonderful”
– Michael Kiwanuka