Self Titled (Kae Tempest album)
| Self Titled | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 July 2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:26 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Producer |
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| Kae Tempest chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Self Titled | ||||
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Self Titled is the fifth studio album by English poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest. It was released on 4 July 2025, through Island Records. The album features collaborations with Neil Tennant, Tawiah, Connie Constance and Young Fathers.
Promotion
[edit]Singles
[edit]On 19 March 2025, Tempest released "Statue in the Square" which would become the album's first single. The track was premiered on Nick Grimshaw's BBC Radio 6 Music show.[1]
The second single "Know Yourself" was released on 30 April 2025 alongside the album's announcement.[2]
"Diagnoses" was released as the album's third and final single on 23 June 2025.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[4] |
| Metacritic | 84/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Clash | 8/10[7] |
| The Guardian | [8] |
| The Independent | [9] |
| NME | [10] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Self Titled received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[5]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Kae Tempest and Fraser T. Smith, with additional writers noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Stand on the Line" | 3:38 | |
| 2. | "Statue in the Square" | 2:54 | |
| 3. | "Know Yourself" | Tom Rowlands | 2:40 |
| 4. | "Sunshine on Catford" | 3:10 | |
| 5. | "Bless the Bold Future" | Tawiah | 3:42 |
| 6. | "Everything All Together" | 1:52 | |
| 7. | "Prayers to Whisper" | 3:34 | |
| 8. | "Diagnoses" | Rowlands | 2:53 |
| 9. | "Hyperdistillation" | Constance Power | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Forever" | 2:28 | |
| 11. | "Breathe" | 5:53 | |
| 12. | "Till Morning" | 3:33 | |
| Total length: | 40:26 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]
- Kae Tempest – vocals
- Fraser T. Smith – keyboards, piano, production, mixing (all tracks); bass programming, drum programming (tracks 1–11); bass guitar (6, 9, 10, 12), electric guitar (6, 10)
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Louis Rogove – engineering
- Scott Barnett – engineering (1–5, 7–12)
- Raven Bush – string arrangement, strings (1, 3, 4, 6–10)
- Giles Kwakeulati King-Ashong – drums (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9–11)
- Isabel Gracefield – engineering (1, 3, 6, 7, 9–12)
- Sheila Maurice-Grey – horn arrangement, trumpet (1, 6, 10, 12)
- Chelsea Carmichael – saxophone (1, 6, 10, 12)
- Anoushka Nanguy – trombone (1, 6, 10, 12)
- Theon Cross – tuba (1, 6, 10, 12)
- Molly J – background vocals (2, 6, 7, 9, 10)
- Tom Rowlands – production, bass programming, drum programming, keyboards (3, 8)
- Neil Tennant – additional vocals (4)
- Tawiah – additional vocals (5)
- Connie Constance – additional vocals (9)
- Alloysious Massaquoi – additional vocals (11)
- Graham Hastings – additional vocals (11)
- Kayus Bankole – additional vocals (11)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] | 50 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[13] | 3 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] | 41 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 25 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[16] | 1 |
References
[edit]- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (19 March 2025). "Listen to Kae Tempest's striking new single 'Statue In The Square'". NME. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Kae Tempest announces fifth album 'Self Titled' and drops new single 'Know Yourself'". DIY. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; Hussain, Shahzaib (23 June 2025). "Kae Tempest Shares New Single 'Diagnoses' | News". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Self Titled by Kae Tempest Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Self Titled by Kae Tempest Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Self Titled - Kae Tempest | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Su, Yu An (3 July 2025). "Kae Tempest – Self-Titled". Clash. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Aroesti, Rachel (4 July 2025). "Kae Tempest: Self Titled review – the rhythms in his lyrics are still so distinct". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Brown, Helen (4 July 2025). "On Self Titled, Kae Tempest delivers power and truth in his weary clarity". The Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Garratt-Stanley, Fred (3 July 2025). "Kae Tempest – 'Self Titled' review: an inspiring reflection on identity and self-discovery". NME. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Self Titled / Kae Tempest / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Kae Tempest – Self Titled" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kae Tempest – Self Titled". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
