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

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.