A fifth LP by the acclaimed London writer and rapper brings further profound and passionate wordplay themed around their identity, personal story, and dark social issue themes, with a newer sometimes synth-pop sound and guests including Neil Tennant and Young Fathers. With a different group of songs originally planned for the new LP, this album was instead inspired by meeting producer Fraser T Smith (his CV includes Adele and Stormzy), who encouraged Tempest to make an album unique to them. Confirming non-binary status five years ago, and now trans, at 39, Tempest’s appearance has radically changed, with candid, powerfully vivid descriptions of key life moments, among songs that are a love letter to being an outsider, to their partner, and to the joys of self-expression in hip-hop. That is very much in evidence in the autobiographical and excellent Know Yourself, with descriptions of the teenager pressed against a barrier watching Wu-Tang Clan and “When I was young I sought help from my older self I came into my head I told me know yourself.” Diagnoses is a sharp, slick, insightful song about mental health, with darkly humorous observations such as “But it's the world that's sick, baby, we're alright / C-PTSD, ADHD, anxiety/ Bipolar, addiction, neurodivergence / I'd be more worried if we weren't disturbed.” On that theme, Hyperdistillation, describes a man who dies sleeping rough outside uninhabited penthouses during rising NHS backlogs. Statue In The Square is a menacingly catchy number that’s a tribute to the trans community and a bullish protest against transphobia, filled with more killer lines, including: “The norm is not normal: it's a construction / Designed to stifle the inner life and increase production.” Breathe is another standout, powerful track, featuring Young Fathers on backing vocals, filled with visceral scenes from a younger life, while Sunshine On Catford, with Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant, is a synthy-sheen love song to Kae’s partner. Everything All Together meanwhile is an unusual central track, taking musical samples and lyrical lines from each of the other songs. Overall, again unflinchingly honest, orignal, powerful work by a uniquely talented artist. Out on Island Records.
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