Rag’n’Bone Man - Human review: ‘the blues are in safe hands’ | London Evening Standard

Rag’n’Bone Man - Human review: ‘the blues are in safe hands’The planet’s most unlikely pop star draws on old-style soul on his debut albumThe industry's big hope: does Rag'n'Bone Man live up to the hype on his debut album?Dean Chalkley

Review at a glance

Rory Graham may be the least likely pop star on the planet.

At 32, the bearded bluesman from Uckfield, East Sussex, has become the music industry’s big hope for 2017.

A former rapper whose stage name was inspired by repeats of Steptoe and Son, the burly, tattooed singer’s a decade older than most next big things.

But Graham’s major advantage is a towering voice that’s capable of surprising tenderness as he draws on old-style soul, blues and gospel.

His breakout hit Human’s rumbling rhythm is successfully replicated on Bitter End, though this is a diverse debut that marries Rag’n’Bone Man’s soulful roar with modern production.

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When he goes a cappella for closing track Die Easy, a gutsy reworking of a traditional American song, it’s clear the blues are in safe hands.

(Columbia)