Michael Kiwanuka – ‘Small Changes’
Five years after his Mercury Prize-winning album Kiwanuka, Michael Kiwanuka returns with Small Changes, a reflective and understated record that channels personal growth and resilience. Against a backdrop of global upheaval and personal milestones—including becoming a father of two—Kiwanuka crafts a work of soulful introspection, produced alongside Danger Mouse and Inflo.
Twice during his spellbinding set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this summer, Michael Kiwanuka attempted to perform the intro to Solid Ground, the penultimate track on Kiwanuka, before his malfunctioning synth forced him to abandon the song. “This is like my worst nightmare,” he sheepishly grinned, before quickly recomposing himself and seamlessly carrying on. It was a glimpse of the diffident, anxious man—a self-confessed “overthinker”—so often apparent in his songs.
Small Changes strips back the grand orchestral flourishes and gospel harmonies that defined Love & Hate and Kiwanuka, opting instead for a mellow, psychedelic-soul sound that feels intimate and meditative. It’s a quieter triumph, more about creating a sanctuary from the noise of life than chasing commercial success. Tracks like “Floating Parade,” with its dreamy synths and tumbling drums, drift serenely, supported by Kiwanuka’s warm baritone and spectral backing vocals that seem to hover just out of reach.
“We can be solid but barely make a dent,” he offers in the gorgeous, slow-burning opener Floating Parade, with its Melody Nelson-esque bassline, wafting strings, and oblique narrative about losing himself in the crowd and managing anxiety. “I chased the waterfalls/I was the leaving kind,” he sings with a hint of Fred Neil-styled escapism on One And Only, ultimately resolving to be a better partner.
Though there aren’t any drastic changes to his warm, woody sound, there’s an evident assurance that the record-making team know exactly what they’re doing. Tasteful tones and masterful grooves feature throughout, in a production that is artfully sparse, so that when an orchestral part swoops in or a fizzy guitar solo bursts out, it has maximum effect. The spirit of ’70s soul still clearly informs his work, but Small Changes also feels modern, with subtly overdriven beats and the thick, wobbly synth riff that drives Follow Your Dreams.
The album’s most ambitious moment comes with the two-part centerpiece Lowdown. Audience applause and chatter open Part I, where a rolling Pino Palladino bassline and Al Kooper-style Hammond organ interjections evoke a downtrodden take on The Beta Band’s Dry The Rain, replete with a naggingly beautiful melody. Even if these influences aren’t always obvious, Kiwanuka cites inspirations like Gene Clark, Sade, Beth Gibbons, and Mazzy Star.
Listening to Mazzy Star’s 1993 song Fade Into You inspired the closing track Four Long Years, which retains its elegant moodiness. It’s a lament for lost love featuring tremolo guitar and a melody that curls like smoke. But as personal as these songs feel, there’s a universality to Small Changes that, like all of Kiwanuka’s records, resonates deeply. Everybody hurts, it seems to say—but this might help.
Some listeners may miss the bravura solos and towering hooks of Kiwanuka’s past work. There’s nothing as immediate as Cold Little Heart, the breakout hit from Love & Hate. But Small Changes isn’t about grand statements; it’s about contentment and self-assurance. By embracing a more restrained, contemplative style, Kiwanuka demonstrates the quiet power of knowing who you are—and being at peace with it. In a world constantly in flux, Small Changes feels like a steadying hand, offering solace through its gentle soulfulness and unwavering authenticity.
