Where Joshua Idehen probably picked up all those house beats that so beautifully plow through his new work with the somewhat unwieldy title (something about Hurting, right?). If in doubt, studying early Daft Punk tracks from the HOMEWORK era always helps, but British sound craftsmanship à la Dizzee Rascal can also be heard in this music. As for the verbal contributions, Idehen has already pointed out the inspiring art of Scroobius Pip.
Yes, maybe everything had to turn out the way it did, “What’s meant for me, will find me anyway,” says the British-Swedish vocalist and open mic performer Idehen in the track “It Always Was”. And that’s the saying of a childhood friend who didn’t want to join in with the general making of plans for the future.
Joshua Idehen’s new album is one of the currently rare releases that surfs on a wave of optimism – Idehen conjures up an offensive lightness with his musical partner Ludvig Parment in a dozen, this record tastes like a pick-me-up drink with the herbs of the season. Included in the price: short meditations and sound snippets with piano and voice, reflections on self-care, relationship maintenance and resilience. “Don’t Let It Get You Down” is the big brightener with the staccato beat, “Brother” is the bouncy drum’n’bass jazz piece that demands movement. Dance something with Hurting, you won’t be able to get it out of your head and legs so quickly.
This review appears in Musikexpress 3/2026.
