Live Review Kano, Royal Albert Hall, London 7th October 2019

It only took a matter of minutes for Kano to sell out London’s Royal Albert Hall when tickets were up for sale in July this year. The politically-charged lead single ‘Trouble’ was the only song from his forthcoming album sent out into the ether at the time, the five minute chop-up of soul, dramatic soundbites and gospel choirs suggested that he might be on to something special. These suspicions were validated as the 10 tracks that made up ‘Hoodies All Summer’ materialised in August to unanimous praise; it’s quickly become regarded as his master work.

Parallel to the acclaim bestowed upon his sixth album, his returning performance as Sully on Netflix’s ‘Top Boy’ was also the subject of glowing reviews. Riding high on a career peak, tonight’s show at the Royal Albert Hall is the celebratory homecoming for the elder statesman of grime. Mid-set, he takes a moment to take in the endless thundering howls which fill in the gaps between every song, beaming and visibly overwhelmed, he simply says, “I dunno what to say - I’ll find my words”.

Even before the lights go down, the sense of occasion builds as a full string section, brass band and six-person gospel choir floods the stage. Eventually Kano emerges slowly from stage-left, and like each musician on stage, he is adorned in crystal-white clothing head-to-toe. His breathless flow brings the dramatic swells of opener ‘Free Years Later’ to boiling point; the outro’s stammering staccato synth pulls at the tension which resolves in a warm gospel vocal harmony.

His live arrangements reimagine the thrilling left hooks he swings on record. Just as the jaunty piano of ‘Trouble’ gets into its stride, a scream and a gunshot segues into a soothing gospel choir section who suddenly surrounds him on stage. While the strings are sometimes eaten up by the low-end bass, the presence of the brass band provides an almighty punch to the driving bass of ‘P’s and Q’s’ and ‘This Is England’ which unleash utter carnage in the crowd.