Rough Trade Albums of the Year 2023 (UK)

Rank: #5 (See full list here).

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2CbdK8h0bag

Mercury Prize winning Edinburgh trio Young Fathers are back following 2018’s standout Cocoa Sugar. Made up of Alloysious Massaquoi, Graham ‘G’ Hastings and Kayus Bankole, Young Fathers have long been recognised as one of Britain’s most vital and distinguished bands - merging incendiary and thought provoking lyrics with cutting edge visuals and an undeniable propulsive live show.

Written and recorded over the course of three years, the longest time taken on a Young Fathers album, Heavy Heavy is a tour de force from the Edinburgh trio. An overarching theme of being human can be felt throughout the ten track album, exploring the feelings of euphoria and rush of emotion experienced at the end of a struggle, a sense of fulfilment as a result of the toil and hard graft that life throws at everyone. An unashamedly soulful and heartfelt album, where the drums set the scene throughout to transport the listener to a place of celebration and awakening.