Loyle Carner – hopefully !
The influence of having children can be felt across Loyle Carner's beautiful and personal hopefully !, showing his progress not just as an artist but as a person too
Like so many young fathers, Loyle Carner’s life has been changed by having kids – and his music has changed with it. hopefully ! brings a new soft rock backing to the rapper’s reflective bars, all acoustic guitars and spaced-out drums. It’s a far looser and more melodic sound, a gradual softening as he begins to see the world through the eyes of his young children.
The album explores this new territory with a good variety of indie-inspired beats without compromising on the intimacy and emotion that draws so many fans to his music. in my mind shows the rapper as pensive and introspective, backed by a moody guitar, before flowing straight into the playful all i need. Recent single about time is a stand out – it's gorgeous and emotional in the mould of a cry-in-the-car indie banger.
The album still finds room for some jazz-rap, notably on title track hopefully, which features a recording of the late, great Benjamin Zephaniah. The influence of poetry is obvious throughout the album as he embraces a style more akin to spoken word than rap on lyin and strangers. hopefully ! is a new sound, but the album is just as beautiful and personal, showing Loyle Carner’s progress not just as an artist but as a person.
Listen to: about time, in my mind, hopefully