The title of Kele Okereke’s third album offers a clue to the singer’s transformation into a mature artist with a penchant for saxophone solos, warmly soulful sounds and wispy folk.
Fatherland was inspired by impending fatherhood: his daughter was born last December.
With a track record in spiky indie rock alongside his band Bloc Party and previous solo excursions into pummelling electronics, Okereke’s taking a risk with tunes like the jaunty cabaret of Capers.
But it’s a rare mis-step on an album of assured songwriting. The shimmering chorus of You Keep on Whispering His Name and a delicate duet with Corinne Bailey Rae have the potential to reach that older Radio 2 audience who still buy CDs.
Although it’s an unlikely reinvention, there’s no rush for Okereke to return to business as usual.
