Tiggs Da Author - Blame It on the Youts

The Guardian 0

(Alacran)
Tiggs’s mix of genres and African sounds driven by lush arrangements make for a thoroughly uplifting debut

The Tanzanian-born, London-raised vocalist, songwriter and producer Tiggs Da Author is known as a master of hooks, having lent his formidable tones to the likes of J Hus, SL and Stefflon Don. Back in 2019 he put out his own mixtape, Morefire, which had an easy vitality to it, though all but one track featured a guest artist. Tiggs’s debut album picks up from Morefire’s warm sonic energy, but this time he’s centre stage. It’s a smooth record that channels funk, soul, reggae, gospel, Afrojazz and more; Tiggs has said he wants to represent the broad array of sounds from the African continent – no mean feat.

While occasionally things can feel a little cheesy or anachronistic, overall this is an uplifting, accomplished set, not least thanks to gorgeous arrangements and Tiggs’s unfaltering voice. Opening track Enough is all rich, vast energy; then there’s the sunshine shuffle of the title track, the punchy brass of reggae bop Zulu Gang, the euphoric licks of guitar and harmonies on Just a Little, and the dazzling Fly ’Em High, a collaboration with Nines. In a heavy, fractured world, Blame It on the Youts sounds like hope.