Rekindling his inner child, a child who grew up listening to the likes of soul-baring artists such as Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield, The Loop finds Rakei speaking with a similar desire and learning to embrace the simplicity of words. The album represents significant and profound changes in Rakei’s life, and the impact of these changes.
The album opens wonderfully with “Flowers”, a sweet love song to Rakei’s wife. The hip-hop percussion perfectly introducing an album full of conflicting emotions. “Amends”, with its swirling synths, tells of accepting the departure of friends, acquaintances, business partners and the like from your life. Meanwhile, the gentle “Hopes and Dreams”, written just after the birth of his son, carries an awe-striking tenderness and the aura of a timeless classic.
There is soul influence aplenty with the groove-laden “Freedom”, with its strong mantra of letting go of dread and sadness. Meanwhile, “Trust” builds on jazz influences and travels back to Rakei’s roots of having some fun. Travelling back to vulnerability, “Learning” is Rakei’s most profound track to date as he looks deep into what he is still to learn about his place in the world and his responsibilities.
Stripping back production and opening up his feelings, The Loop demonstrates Rakei at his most vulnerable, yet that has not dampened the production quality. An album that stirs the soul, it is a collection of work that will delve deep into your feelings but also captivate a room in a live setting. A multi-faceted album from an evermore dynamic artist.
