Kokoroko – Tough Times Never Last

Never Lost; Sweetie; Closer To Me; My Father in Heaven; Idea 5 (Call My Name); Three Piece Suit; Time and Time; Da Du Dah; Together We Are; Just Can’t Wait; Over (Reprise)

Label: (Brownswood)

Kokoroko's new album is a great summer soundtrack, with mid-tempo songs that sound even better in the sun with a cool drink.

The London jazz collective released their debut album, Could We Be More, in 2022, blending a sound that combined a more laid-back version of Incognito mixed with a touch of Massive Attack. Their sound remains a languid affair, with not any of the tracks here breaking the speed limit.

Never Lost sets the tone for the album, where lush harmonies combine with a soft lilting groove, making for a familiar sound for those familiar with the band, making it all feel like sliding into your favourite pair of slippers. Sweetie briefly steps a toe into Afrobeat territory, whilst Idea 5 (Call My Name) benefits from an R&B vocal from vocalist Lulu. The listener is guided back to some mid-eighties funk via Da Du Dah – being one of the standout tracks from the album.

The mood begins to get a little too slow-paced, leaving room for something more energetic, quickly remedied with Time and Time and Just Can’t Wait, a track built on a solid bass line, some nifty guitar work and a horn section that finally decides to awaken and rip up a storm.

The band appear to have evolved and continue to do so; which direction they take next will be an interesting one, but for now Kokoroko bask in the sunshine.