Customer Reviews

African Girl

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The only thing "African" about this album is the parentage of the woman singing on it, so buyer beware. Apparently, some people bought the album thinking (going by the album's title) that they'd be getting some African rhythms or at least, some African-influenced songs, à la Asa or even Angélique Kidjo. I hear they were very disappointed. She does give us a few lines in French and Yoruba on "Mr So & So" but that's about as African as it gets, from what I can tell.

The London-based Nigerian singer-songwriter known as Nayo (short for Temitope Odunayo Abidoye) has gone for a smooth, jazz-influenced r&b sound here and though it's pleasant enough to the ear, it is all a bit samey-samey and nothing really leaps out. The Sade comparisons (primarily cooked up by lazy journalists) are interesting; vocally I think they're poles apart but there is something about her musical style that is reminiscent of Sade's in her later days.

Nayo does confess to be influenced by Sade, alongside people like Astrud Gilberto, Bob Marley and Everything About The Girl's Tracey Thorn. It shows. Hypnotic melodies are fused with Latin and Afro beats, and she clearly sings from the soul. There is admirable production work by Colin Emmanuel, Pete Glenister & Deni Lew, Christopher Rojas, KK, Brandon Christy, James Bryan McCollum and Náyo Abidoye & Richard Cardwell.

To her credit, Nayo does have a very unique sound and, if you check out her lyrics, she is quite deep (avoiding the usual tired baby, baby stuff and singing about things like the pain of love lost, injustice, life's struggles and all that). I'm just not sure that's going to be enough to catapult her into the mainstream's consciousness, which is where she obviously wants to be.

And that is where Sade, even now, years into her apparent retirement, still towers above her. Sade's songs were immediately easy to home in on, sing along to and identify with. As pleasant as Nayo's songs are, they are rather obtuse and I fear that unless she learns to be a bit more lyrically distinct, she will not achieve the success she desires and probably deserves. For me, this album will make good background music but not much more.

Just got this album yesterday and I must say that when I heard that this girl was compared to Sade, I was at first skeptical but had to give it a listen. The title single, "African Girl", immediately quelled any fears I had about this album and I can't put it down. There aren't any filler songs in here whatsoever as every single song wraps you in velvet. I highly recommend this for those who loves Sade and her brand of music.

Oh who am I kidding, this girl was in the same set I was in high school (Atlantic Hall 1995) and most shows that we had, she performed in them with excellence of course. This album pretty much sums up everything she did from that time till now. Great work and great album, you should buy it!

I absolutely love this artist, her voice is like a newer, more refined Sade. She is very talented and this CD is amazing. My fav track is African Girl.