Yesterday's Gone

A gradual crescendo of spirit-lifting gospel introduces "Yesterday's Gone", perfectly fitting for the debut longplayer from the young master of 'confessional hip hop'. Indeed as Ben Coyle-Larner spits sombre bars over "The Isle Of Arran"s soulful grooves, the South Londoner touches on family, bereavement and religion, all with the same intricate flow and honest delivery. It's a sound that's at odds with the current slew of mumbling, stumbling, gangtas who dominate the charts and mixtapes, celebrating gold, diamonds and designer footwear as they breeze through meme-references and barely decipherable hooks. Rather, Loyle Carner takes his cues from Mos Def, Talib Kweli and London's own Roots Manuva, delivering conscious rhymes over gentle, jazzy grooves. Intimate, intricate and tough to imitate, Loyle Carner is entirely relatable as he treats us to everyday tales of family, food, romance and regret, laying his growing pains bare across a dozen tracks and a couple of well placed skits. If the recent ATCQ LP's put you in the mood for some proper hip hop, then this is your new jam.