On “Anywhere Away From Here,” from Life By Misadventure, the newest release from English musician Rag’n’Bone Man, a light piano accompanies Rory Charles Graham’s strong baritone voice, in perfect complement to guest vocalist P!nk’s raspy and melodic singing. The duo comes together like yin and yang, as the piano plays. While the song is quite representative of Rag’n’Bone Man’s sound, the album is a departure from his past work, showcasing a warmer and more vulnerable artist.

Life By Misadventure is Rag’n’Bone Man’s follow up to 2017’s breakthrough album Human. It feels at times like a supportive letter from a caring father, who just happens to have enough face tattoos to exude authority. The album kicks off with the sounds of nature and a strummed guitar. Chirping birds and light breeze give listeners a distinct feeling of sitting in a field, musing about time, on “Fireflies.” “Seasons will change from gold into silver/ Don’t let time turn your heart into winter,” he warbles soulfully. Thanks. Dad, that’s solid advice.

“Breath In Me” maintains the sweetness, with acoustic guitar and the promise that Rag’n’Bone Man can be called on day and night. “I will live or die happily, just to know you’re free,” he sings. There’s no doubt that the sentiments of this album are accentuated by the fact that Rag’n’Bone Man really has became a father. The message appears again and again, with listeners as the beneficiaries of his affirmations of unconditional love.

“Fall in Love Again” picks up the mood with an upbeat tempo and pleas form Rag’n’Bone Man requesting, “Don’t cross that line/ I don’t want to fall in love again.” It is a reference to the artist’s divorce six months after getting married in fashionable track suits. That’s a love that is hard to replicate. The following track, “Talking to Myself,” repeats the themes of loss and isolation. “I’ve been messed up of late/ Talking to myself a lot/ But I’m trying to embrace/ Just teetering on self-destruct,” he sings. The song is a rocking anthem for the lonely and those who only have the voice in their head to keep them company.

“Alone” takes on a more positive outlook, post break-up. “Hurry up and find the one that makes you feel like you become complete,” he sings. His strums his guitar faster and his voice is intense as he belts out instructions for a happy life.

“All you ever Wanted” is as close to a dance track as it gets on Life By Misadventure. The first single is bouncy and almost reminiscent of The Strokes. Rag’n’Bone Man croons about life in the city and the rat race necessary just to survive. “Is it all you ever wanted?” he asks. The song contrasts preceding ones not only in mood but the fast-pace takes us away from the Americana-vibe first established on the album and into the hustle and bustle of the big city.

“Somewhere Along the Way” starts with a sweet bit of personality as Rag’n’Bone Man talks humbly in the studio with his musical collaborators. The song winds around the topic of relying on those around you, with Graham supported by a choir and percussion accompaniment.

Most artists today seemingly are taking time to address the current chaos in the world. Rag’n’Bone Man does this on the jazzy “Time Will Only Tell,” which addresses several challenges, referencing war, alcohol abuse and societal pressures. “Mother will you tell me how I’m supposed to feel?” Rag’n’Bone Man sings as the chorus responds, “Time will only tell if we’re listening to ourselves.” “Light Years” sees the return of the father figure, encouraging us to embrace the world with arms wide open: “Start living life in the moment/ Your eyes are barely open/ Then it’s gone.” The song repeats adages that the wise bestow on the young, only to be ignored. “It isn’t light years away,” he repeats, encouraging listeners to not take their lives for granted.

Appropriately, the following track is titled “Party’s Over.” It’s a grand, melodic tune with a swinging and swaying choir. “Burn your bridges, start again/ There’s a whole world for the taking,” Rag’N’Bone Man sings before an electric guitar comes in and leads us out and into album closer “Old Habits.” Returning again to the simple acoustic strumming and using his greatest asset, his voice, Rag’n’Bone Man leaves us with a few more words of wisdom. “Dreams are sold without a lifetime guarantee, with the best of intentions,” he says in a soliloquy. “I could never give you up/ Old habits die hard.” A loving father and a loving ex-husband, Rag’n’Bone Man’s vulnerability brings him to a new level of artistry.

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