8/10

As the UK hip-hop scene remains solidly in the hands of the grime revival, there has been little mention of any British rapper that doesn't conform to the big bass sound. So to see an artist like Loyle Carner manage to break through the dust with something as diverse and thought-provoking as his debut album 'Yesterday's Gone', shows that this isn't just another run-of-the-mill rap record.

Following on from the success of other albums like Kanye West's 'Life Of Pablo' and Kendrick Lamar's 'To Kill A Butterfly', 'Yesterday's Gone' takes much of its influence from a retro sound. Rich with soul and jazz inspirations, the album keeps up this mix of soothing lyrical flow and poetry that seems to quickly become his coined sound. No track outshines any other, making it very easy to stay with the release from start to finish and get a full sense of Carner's disposition.

It is certainly a massive breath of fresh air from someone who hasn't really made the initial impact he should have. Loyle Carner has taken hip-hop and reinvented it as a lounge genre, delivering something not only unique but very special as well.