A review of Kae Tempest's fifth album, 'Self Titled', highlights its themes of despair, pain, anxiety, and suffering, particularly addressing societal issues like homelessness, NHS backlogs, and transphobia. Despite the dark themes, the album is described as a joyous collection of love letters to the trans community, London, and Tempest's partner, showcasing his unique lyrical ability and rhythmic delivery. The review notes the album's attention-grabbing instrumentals, which sometimes overshadow the lyrics, but ultimately contribute to its hopeful and timely nature.
Kae Tempest: Self Titled review – the rhythms in his lyrics are still so distinct
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A review of Kae Tempest's fifth album, 'Self Titled', highlights its themes of despair, pain, anxiety, and suffering, particularly addressing societal issues like homelessness, NHS backlogs, and transphobia. Despite the dark themes, the album is described as a joyous collection of love letters to the trans community, London, and Tempest's partner, showcasing his unique lyrical ability and rhythmic delivery. The review notes the album's attention-grabbing instrumentals, which sometimes overshadow the lyrics, but ultimately contribute to its hopeful and timely nature.
Trending- 1 2020: Kae Tempest came out as non-binary
- 2 Earlier this year: Kae Tempest revealed his gender transition
- 3 2022: 'The Line Is a Curve' album released
- 4 2025-07-04: 'Self Titled' album reviewed
- Album explores themes of pain, anxiety, suffering, and transphobia
- Album also conveys hope and hard-won happiness
- Tempest's gender transition is openly discussed in the album's context
What: Review of Kae Tempest's fifth album, 'Self Titled', which explores themes of despair, societal decay, and personal torment, while also serving as a love letter to the trans community, London, and his partner.
When: Published 2025-07-04; album released by Island Records.
Where: London (Tempest's home town), Catford (mentioned in a song title).
Why: To review Kae Tempest's new album, highlighting its themes, musical style, and personal significance, particularly in light of Tempest's gender transition.
How: Through a critical analysis of the album's lyrics, musical composition, and thematic content, comparing it to previous works.