Grime’s had an exciting, colourful 12 months. Skepta and Wiley both dropped career-defining records. Everybody’s still going wild for Stormzy. And Croydon boy Loyle Carner has now added a different dose of brilliance with his debut proper, ‘Yesterday’s Gone’, taking elements of the scene and twisting it into an introspective new shape.
If you were to compare it to any recent release, you could point towards America, J.Cole’s ‘4 Your Eyez Only’ and its heartfelt, jazz-stained sheets. But that’s a surface comparison. ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ lives in its own little world and paints the streets Carner inhabits in a slightly brighter light than his contemporaries.
The fuzzy crackling of vinyl opens The Isle of Arran and it’s an effect that’s present on several songs, ensconcing the album in a warmth that nevertheless goes further than its ties to the physical format.
Everything from the cover art to a skit involving Carner egging his Mum on to swear screams community, love, family and friendship. On Florence, he’s making pancakes like his Nan makes. On the title track, an acoustic guitar breaks from the snare-snapping, beat-heavy routine, closing the album on the cusp of another discovery. It’s never boring. Never calculated.
It’s this organic, utterly honest way of processing his emotions that makes Carner so exciting. The Isle of Arran features a gospel choir while running the line: “There’s nothing to believe in, believe me.” The delivery’s terse but never succumbs to all-out rage. If anything, Carner sounds pained bordering on apathetic. Damselfly’s waddling brass and guitars are bolstered by Tom Misch’s classy guest vocal, but it’s still Carner who owns it: “I’ve been too busy gettin’ dizzy off that JD, dreamin’ of the places you could take me.”
It all seems so effortless and the only time Carner loosens his grip is on the more straight-ahead No CD. It’s fair to say that his discontent, fears and hopes are all conveyed in a fuller manner elsewhere. It’s not a real mis-step, but it does mean that the course requires altering slightly thanks to the banging tabla beat on Mrs C.
This album is a snapshot of Carner as a human being. The skits, the confessional lyrics and the appearance of his family all contribute to a portrait of a man unafraid to express himself. His Mum reads out a poem on Son Of Jean: “He was and is a complete joy. The world is his, that scribble of a boy.” The world is his, but he’s more than a scribble now. On ‘Yesterday’s Gone’, Loyle Carner is a free-flowing brushstroke.
Loyle Carner Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu February 02 2017 - DUBLIN Workman's Club
Fri February 03 2017 - GLASGOW Glasgow Garage
Sat February 04 2017 - EDINBURGH Liquid Room
Sun February 05 2017 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Riverside
Tue February 07 2017 - OXFORD O2 Academy Oxford
Wed February 08 2017 - LEEDS Belgrave Music Hall
Thu February 09 2017 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2
Sat February 11 2017 - NORWICH Waterfront
Sun February 12 2017 - BRISTOL Motion
Mon February 13 2017 - PLYMOUTH Hub
Wed February 15 2017 - SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms
Thu February 16 2017 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Fri February 17 2017 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Sat February 18 2017 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Click here to compare & buy Loyle Carner Tickets at Stereoboard.com.
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
