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When Rory Graham first unleashed that cavernous, bourbon-soaked voice upon the world, it felt like discovering a forgotten blues master in your mate's record collection. Here was a bloke from Uckfield – hardly the Mississippi Delta – who could summon the ghosts of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf with the ease of ordering a pint. His 2017 debut "Human" didn't just announce the arrival of Rag'n'Bone Man; it practically kicked down the door of British soul music and demanded attention.

The journey to "Human" reads like a modern-day musical odyssey. Graham had been grinding through the underground hip-hop scene as Rag'n'Bone Man since 2011, releasing mixtapes that showcased his remarkable range but failed to capture the public imagination. The breakthrough came through a series of serendipitous encounters – a chance meeting with producer Mark Crew, sessions with Jonny Coffer, and the gradual realisation that his voice was destined for something far grander than bedroom studios and small venue support slots. By 2016, that voice had caught the attention of Columbia Records, and suddenly the kid from East Sussex was being hailed as the future of British soul.

Musically, "Human" occupies a fascinating middle ground between authenticity and accessibility. Graham and his collaborators have crafted an album that pays homage to classic American soul while remaining distinctly contemporary. The production is crisp without being sterile, allowing space for that extraordinary voice to breathe while incorporating subtle electronic flourishes that nod to Graham's hip-hop origins. It's blues-rock for the Spotify generation – rootsy enough to satisfy purists, polished enough for Radio 2 playlists.

The title track remains an absolute monster of a song, built around a gospel-tinged piano motif that provides the perfect launching pad for Graham's vocal acrobatics. When he reaches that soaring chorus – "I'm only human after all" – it's impossible not to feel the hairs on your arms stand to attention. The song's exploration of vulnerability and fallibility struck a particular chord in 2017's fractured political landscape, offering a refreshingly honest take on masculinity that resonated far beyond traditional soul audiences.

"Skin" showcases a different facet of Graham's artistry, its delicate acoustic arrangement providing an intimate backdrop for lyrics that tackle prejudice and social division with remarkable maturity. The stripped-back approach allows every crack and whisper in his voice to register, creating moments of genuine emotional connection that feel increasingly rare in today's oversaturated musical landscape. Meanwhile, "Grace" finds him channeling his inner gospel preacher, building from hushed confessional to full-throated spiritual awakening over the course of four and a half mesmerising minutes.

The album's sequencing demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of dynamics and emotional flow. Quieter moments like "Arrow" and "Innocent Man" provide breathing space between the more explosive tracks, while "Bitter End" closes proceedings with a haunting meditation on mortality that lingers long after the final notes fade. Throughout, Graham's voice remains the constant – a force of nature that can whisper sweet nothings one moment and shake the rafters the next.

Seven years on, "Human" feels like a watershed moment for British soul music. The album's commercial success – it topped the UK charts and achieved multi-platinum status – proved there was still an appetite for music with genuine emotional weight and artistic substance. Graham's subsequent work has built upon these foundations, but "Human" remains his defining statement, a collection of songs that announced the arrival of a genuinely important new voice.

In an era of manufactured pop stars and algorithmic playlists, Rag'n'Bone Man emerged as something increasingly precious – an artist whose talent transcends genre boundaries and marketing strategies. "Human" stands as testament to the enduring power of great songwriting and extraordinary vocal performance, a reminder that sometimes the most profound musical experiences come from the simplest equation: one man, one voice, and something meaningful to say. It's an album that deserves its place in the canon of great British soul records, a modern classic that sounds as vital today as it did upon release.