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Apr 18, 2019While the sombre tone of these 15 tracks may result in some listeners skipping through in search of something energetic, what lies at the end of this record for those with patience is a truly beautiful collection of stories built through pensive soliloquy as a means of exploring abrasive subjects.
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May 15, 2019Some more cynical types may find this heart-on-sleeve approach too cloying, but the delivery and writing is so honest and heartfelt, it’s impossible not to be charmed. Carner is a genuine talent, and this second album demonstrates just why he’s so highly rated.
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Apr 18, 2019The album has an unpolished feel – a diamond in the rough – with its analogue sounds and snatches of conversation from the recording studio.
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May 20, 2019All the supporting work is understated and studious, ideally compatible with Carner's substantive ruminations.
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May 10, 2019Not Waving But Drowning showcases why Carner is heralded as one of British hip-hop’s biggest talents, but this isn’t quite the revelation his debut was. That being said, any album that includes an interlude dedicated to England winning a World Cup penalty shootout will always go down well.
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Apr 18, 2019He’s managed to successfully replicate the feeling of genuine emotion and human connection that drew listeners to him and his music on his first album, with his second likely to be just as prosperous.
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UncutApr 18, 2019Another compellingly intimate listen. [May 2019, p.24]
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Apr 22, 2019For his second album, the 24-year-old’s flow remains defiantly old-school, concerned with language and jazzy storytelling rather than the Autotuned postures that get the streams.
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Apr 19, 2019A collection of smooth, soft-centred rap that verges on the sickly, with Carner’s genial charisma floating adrift in a sea of sentimentality and nostalgia.
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Apr 19, 2019It doesn’t quite match the intensity and impact of his debut.
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Apr 18, 2019Yet amongst [a few] luminous choice picks, sometimes it gets lethargic – and the record stalls.
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Q MagazineApr 18, 2019Short on visceral thrills, but long on soul and dexterity. [May 2019, p.108]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 19 out of 23
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Mixed: 4 out of 23
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Negative: 0 out of 23
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Mar 30, 2023
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May 13, 2019