I have to confess I’ve been a bit late getting into Michael Kiwanuka. Which is strange, because I saw one of his very first shows.

I remember being asked to an invitation-only mini-gig he did on a pub rooftop in Camden one very sunny summer’s day a few years back, launching his career.

And, if I’m honest, I probably went along more for free drinks on a sunny rooftop than the guy providing the entertainment, who I’d never heard of because he hadn’t put anything out.

I guess his people were hoping to build a buzz by getting “tastemakers” like me (ahem) talking about it, and I guess I let them down because I don’t remember talking about it much at all.

Except for the bizarre and serendipitous coincidence that occurred when a young woman walked in front of my car just as I began driving there from my house. 

When I got to Camden, parked the car, and made my way to the rooftop for this small rooftop gathering, there was only one spare seat next to a stranger so I tapped her on the back to ask if I could sit there – and it was the same woman. Small world.

I remembered her because I’d never seen her before – and in my residential road most passers-by are locals – and, yes, she was extremely attractive. I think she was some sort of TV presenter but not one I knew.

Anyway, I haven’t paid much attention to Kiwanuka since then, though I did like that tune – Cold Little Heart – that he did over the opening credits of Big Little Lies.

And now this. A new song from a new album And I love it. It’s got that magical thing of sounding entirely familiar even though you’ve never heard it before.

There’s a strong Seventies vibe to the atmosphere, with that bubbling bassline, and a strong Bill Withers vibe to his lovely warm voice, and listening to it is like sinking slowly into a lovely warm bath.