Love + War, the first studio album released by British singer-songwriter Kwabs, has the young artist’s deep baritone voice ringing over infectious rhythms, creating a one-man gospel choir. His voice being the most predominant aspect of this album, Kwabs balances his honest, soulful sound with rhythmic electro beats and self-sung harmonies that build a colossal performance.
With his extensive background in music, being raised on soul, electronica, rock, classical, and jazz; Kwabs constructs an album that merges and combines all these aspects in a way where they also compliment and provide a vivid environment for the stories he tells. Primarily writing on his experiences of melancholy and perseverance with tracks such as “Father Figure” and his rather successful hit “Walk,” Kwabs’s multiple harmonies backing his vocal track provides an intensity that affects one in a way that only few can do. He uses beats and instrumentals to illustrate pictures as if they were supporting characters in his narrative. This, in combination with the depth and emotion in his voice, gives every song a sense of power and command whether he may be singing about desire, or determination as heard in “Make You Mine.”
Weaving the tracks between toe tapping 80’s-ish club music (in a good way) with “Fight for Love” to ballads such as “Perfect Ruin,” this album skillfully provides a modern twist on classic sounds. With something in there for everyone, the only thing that would improve this album is if Kwabs included “Last Stand” from the "Wrong or Right" EP, as I find his voice in that song evokes the most vulnerability and intensity out the rest of his music, but that’s just a personal preference.
With his extensive background in music, being raised on soul, electronica, rock, classical, and jazz; Kwabs constructs an album that merges and combines all these aspects in a way where they also compliment and provide a vivid environment for the stories he tells. Primarily writing on his experiences of melancholy and perseverance with tracks such as “Father Figure” and his rather successful hit “Walk,” Kwabs’s multiple harmonies backing his vocal track provides an intensity that affects one in a way that only few can do. He uses beats and instrumentals to illustrate pictures as if they were supporting characters in his narrative. This, in combination with the depth and emotion in his voice, gives every song a sense of power and command whether he may be singing about desire, or determination as heard in “Make You Mine.”
Weaving the tracks between toe tapping 80’s-ish club music (in a good way) with “Fight for Love” to ballads such as “Perfect Ruin,” this album skillfully provides a modern twist on classic sounds. With something in there for everyone, the only thing that would improve this album is if Kwabs included “Last Stand” from the "Wrong or Right" EP, as I find his voice in that song evokes the most vulnerability and intensity out the rest of his music, but that’s just a personal preference.