Josh Kumra - Helicopters & Planes

Being Josh Kumra at the moment must be a bit like how the cast of Friends feel. Having featured on one of last year’s most overplayed, gets stuck in your head for weeks singles it must be tricky to try and shake free from being ‘that guy who sang on Wretch 32’s ‘Don’t Go’’ (yeah, that’s why the name rings a distant bell). But is latest attempt ‘Helicopters & Planes’ enough to make him just, you know, that singer?

A scatty vocal glancing off warm organ tones is a promising start, suggesting Kumra has refrained from playing it safe. This opening follows on from previous track ‘What We Might Find’, a delicate dressing down of his potential while further cementing an ability to thrive in a collaboration, with female vocalist Mahalia.

However, the intrusion of stings, prominent female backing vocal and a steady drum loop allows what a was an intriguing a cappella to sink into the comfortable surroundings of pop production. There’s no lack of talent in the performance or lyrical content, it just feels like Kumra’s naturally soothing vocal is crying out to be given the same free reign as seen in other recent work. A verse from K Koke (who has an uncanny vocal resemblance to Wretch 32) cements the singer slipping back into the mould that bought him chart success before a final chorus brings the track to a more memorable climax.

‘Helicopters & Planes’ is a sound, well rounded track but failing to break out of his comfort zone gives no real insight into what Josh Kumra, the solo artist, is capable of.