Small Changes

by Michael Kiwanuka

Overview

It's rather surprising that, five years on from the Mercury Prize-winning Kiwanuka -- his third straight Top Five, gold-certified album -- Michael Kiwanuka returned with his least venturesome work since his cautious debut. Small Changes is an exceptionally refined collection of soulful folk-rock ballads. Returning collaborators Inflo and Danger Mouse continue to bring in strings, background voices, and other distinguishing layers, such as Inflo's expressive synthesizer and, in a three-song stretch, the pleasantly surprising if inconspicuous presence of Jimmy Jam on organ. The production duo ensure that nothing is plain, yet each song is a controlled burn, extinguished within five minutes, without a threat of a raging wildfire. Most suited for a contemplative Sunday morning, Small Changes soothes even in its many moments of unease. Whether the songs express loneliness and numbness, or heartache and dejection, each has a conciliatory effect, like Kiwanuka -- his voice more upfront than ever -- knows that anyone in vaguely similar circumstances can relate. He stretches out only on the downcast two-part "Lowdown," the first half a slightly ragged hybrid of Rotary Connection and Velvet Underground, the second half an instrumental with mid-'70s Pink Floyd a clear inspiration. All else is neatly sculpted and gives off an amber-like glow. Endurance is a common theme, from the fantasist "Floating Parade" (containing a brilliant dubwise Kiwanuka bassline) to the exquisitely dancing "The Rest of Me" ("Hide me from the noise but I can't stand the sound of silence"). Although a lonesome post-breakup scene finishes it off, Small Changes also contains some lovely songs about devotion and companionship, including the rustic "One and Only" and spiraling "Stay by My Side." The pacifying quality of Kiwanuka's voice on the title song is so strong that he could have started quoting from the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" without jarring most listeners. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/22/2024
Label:	Geffen Records
UPC:	0602465904727

Tracks

1. Floating Parade
2. Small Changes
3. One And Only
4. Rebel Soul
5. Lowdown (part I)
6. Lowdown (part II)
7. Follow Your Dreams
8. Live For Your Love
9. Stay By My Side
10. The Rest Of Me
11. Four Long Years

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michael Kiwanuka   Primary Artist,Bass,Drums,Piano,Vocals,Wurlitzer,Guitar (Bass),Bass (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Kerenza Peacock   Violin
Chris Woods   Violin
James Arthur Payne   Guitar (Electric)
William Nate Farrington   Bass
Emily Holligan   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Simone Daley-Richards   Vocals (Background)
Stefan Smith   Viola
Stevvi Alexander   Vocals (Background)
Noah Gladstone   String Conductor
Luanne Homzy   Violin
Michelle Shin   Violin
Kiku Enamoto   Violin
William "BJ" Johnson   Bass
James Payne   Slide Guitar
Natalie Leggett   Violin
Marcia Dickstein   Harp
James Gadson   Drums
Pete Anthony   Piano,Conductor
Charles Tyler   Cello
Pino Palladino   Bass
Sarah Thornblade   Violin
Sharlotte Gibson   Vocals (Background)
Luke Maurer   Viola
Maya Magub   Violin
Kiara Ana Perico   Viola
Inflo   Bass,Drums,Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Bass),Fender Jazz Bass,Vocals (Background)
Julie Jung   Cello
Leah Metzler   Cello
Rhea Fowler   Violin
Drew Forde   Viola
Lavance Colley   Vocals (Background)
Marta Sofia Honer   Viola
Wynton Grant   Violin
Paul Cartwright   Violin
Brian Burton   Drums
Cameron Stone   Cello
Marisa Kuney   Violin
Adrienne Woods   Cello
Jimmy Jam   Organ,Organ (Hammond)
Joel Pargman   Violin
Leah Zeger   Violin
Mark Robertson   Violin
Alecia Chakour   Vocals (Background)
Carrie Kennedy   Violin
Stephanie Yu   Violin
Simon Richards   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Michael Kaufman   Cello

Technical Credits

Matt Colton   Mastering Engineer,Mastering
Rich Wheeler   Assistant Engineer
Emily Reeves   Assistant Engineer
Dave Clarke   Assistant Engineer
Marcus Grey   Photography,Creative Director
Noah Gladstone   Strings Contractor,Orchestra Contractor
Ben Baptie   Engineer
Jude Amponsah   Design
Ciaran De Chaud   Assistant Engineer
Alex Kalteziotis   Assistant Engineer
Noah Rastegar   Assistant Engineer
Tesfa Winkler   Assistant Engineer
Jeremy Ngatho Cole   Design,Creative Director
YOUT   Artwork
Cieran de Chaud   Assistant Engineer
Ishaan Nimkar   Assistant Engineer
Sasha Dixon   Assistant Engineer
Richard Woodcraft   Mixing,Engineer
Rosie Danvers   Arranger,String Arrangements
Todd Monfalcone   Engineer
Dean Josiah Cover   Composer
Inflo   Producer
Brian Bair   Assistant Engineer
Max Anstruther   Assistant Engineer
Ryan Nelson   Assistant Engineer
Tom Hardisty   Engineer,Recording,String Engineer
Brian Burton   Composer,Synthesizer Programming
Danger Mouse   Producer
Kenny Takahashi   Engineer
Chandler Harrod   Engineer,String Engineer
Michael Kiwanuka   Composer
Emma Marks   Assistant Engineer
Jess Camilleri   Assistant Engineer
Jacob Spitzer   Assistant Engineer
Barnabas Poffley   Assistant Engineer
Fabian Perez   Assistant Engineer