• Record Label: Daptone
  • Release Date: Jun 5, 2026
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Record Collector
    Jun 12, 2026
    100
    An album of the year contender. [Jul 2026, p.102]
  2. Jun 15, 2026
    90
    There’s no doubt that this latest offering secures his place at the forefront of modern soul music: above all else, Ngonda is a powerful storyteller.
  3. Jun 5, 2026
    80
    It’s a complex trick, but he makes it look effortless – ‘Doctrine Of Love’ is truly a record to swoon over.
  4. Jun 5, 2026
    80
    Ngonda crafted a successful continuation, with slight improvements, of the sound he established on his breakthrough debut, pushing himself further up the ranks of contemporary soul without succumbing to today’s tropes.
  5. Jun 5, 2026
    80
    While it would be easy to dismiss Ngonda’s work as pastiche, the strength of his melodies shows a deep reverence for his craft.
  6. Mojo
    Jun 5, 2026
    80
    Way beyond pastiche, this is soul music filled with passion and attention to period detail. [Jul 2026, p.86]
  7. Jun 5, 2026
    80
    "Anyone in Love" sets the tone for a first half where Ngonda dispenses a lot of wisdom and a little admonition. .... The second half is more personal, generally more impassioned and conflicted.
  8. 70
    This is ten tracks that build on Ngonda’s debut. If perhaps not as fresh as that record, it proves he is far from a one-hit wonder, or a throwback soul act for a new generation.
  9. Uncut
    Jun 5, 2026
    70
    It's nothing new, but the songwriting and arrangements are on point, the references impeccable and the execution classily heartfelt. [Jul 2026, p.35]

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