Reviewer: Peter Martin
Released: 20th June 2025
Label: Island EMI
The opening phrase of Loyle Carner's fourth album is "beautiful accidents," a line that encapsulates the essence of the entire record. In this project, the artist, now in his 11th year, broadens his musical horizons: there are elements of jungle in 'feel at home' and 'corrocux', and he explores singing throughout, with standout emotional moments in 'lyin' and 'strangers'. While his earlier albums dealt with the burdens of his past, 'hopefully !' captures his journey of embracing experiences and moving ahead. 'time to go' has him welcoming change, and the title track includes recordings of both his young son and the late Benjamin Zephaniah. It's evident that his music is driven by emotion, and 'hopefully !' is no exception; it is both poignant and musically rich. With a message to his fans of "take these words and go forward," it appears Loyle has begun to heed his own advice, as 'hopefully!' skillfully showcases his evolution through musical influence and life experiences.
There’s just under a month left until the amazing Madrid weekend!
Their seventh album, 'The Hives Forever Forever The Hives,' is set to be released at the end of August.
Following the successful celebration of their debut album ‘Letter To Self’ with 103 performances last year, the Dublin band Sprints is poised to be one of the standout acts of the 2025 festival season. With a busy lineup of live shows ahead, this will serve as an excellent chance to try out some new music…
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A bit more cohesion would have been beneficial.
As emotionally stirring as it is musically pleasing.