Customer Reviews

Asa

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Tracklisting for this CD is as follows;

1. Jailer
2. 360
3. Bi'ban ké
4. Subway
5. Fire on the mountain
6. Eyé àdaba
7. No one knows
8. Awé
9. Peace
10. So beautiful
11. Iba

Asa (pronounced Asha) is a 25 year old Nigerian guitarist/songstress with an amazing smoky smooth voice (a bit like Macy Gray or Erykah Badu) and a folk/soul/jazz style akin to Tracy Chapman, India.Arie, Norah Jones, or even Lauryn Hill on her MTv Unplugged disc. I discovered her eponymous debut only last week (after my brother had raved about it) and it is fantastic; breezy acoustic guitar driven music with lovely harmonies, and largely philosophical lyrics. Her enunciation is crisp and clear, and the musicianship and production is top notch! She grew up listening to Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, and Bob Marley (among others), has played with artistes like Tony allen, Les Nubians, and Manu Dibango, and has opened for John Legend, Akon and Beyoncé.

Sung mainly in English, with some singing in Yoruba, the songs touch on injustice (the acoustic, reggae tinged bouncy "Jailer"), uncertainties of life ("No one knows", with ethereal harmonies and ever so faint scratching set to a bubbly bass line), alarm at the state of society (the light acoustic "Fire on the mountain" with lyrics like "Hey Mr soldier man /Tomorrow is the day you go to war /But you are fighting for another man's cause /And you don't even know him /What did he say to make you so blind ?" - It has a slight Bob Marley feel), and love (the tender jazzy "Subway").

"360" is an ambient sounding acoustic ballad. Similar is "Bi'ban ké", a love song done in English and Yoruba. The fittingly titled "Eyé àdaba" (dove in Yoruba) is a soft ballad with calming strings. "Awé" is a soaring jazzy ballad with finger snaps, while "Peace" is reggae tinged.

Standouts to me are the closing pair of songs; the ode to her mother "So beautiful" (outstandingly sung in English and Yoruba, it is a tempo shifting acoustic ballad/Highlife tune sprinkled ever so lightly with talking drums) is so heartfelt, and "Iba" (a tender acoustic ballad sung in Yoruba, with a soothing vocal performance) closes this perfect disc. I do not speak Yoruba, but no understanding is needed with music this beautiful.

These songs are awesome; words alone cannot do justice to them. I haven't been this excited about music in a bit. Asa is definitely going to go places, and I urge everyone to go get this CD, you'll definitely be in awe. I look forward to much more from her.

With a recent appearance on Jools Holland''s late night show on BBC2 and AOL UK naming her one of twelve female artistes to look out for in 2008, Paris-born Nigerian Asa's self-titled album is one of the most talked-about in a long while. At least, here in the UK it is. "The pop revelation of Nigerian soul!" is how the sticker label on the front of her CD proclaims her but I'm not sure I would go that far. Which isn't to suggest she isn't soulful at all because she most definitely is, but she reminds me more of someone like Wyclef Jean than any soul artiste I can think of. Still, she displays a unique combination of pop, soul, r&b, world and reggae here and it's really very appealing.

Asa's also been getting plenty of practice on the live circuit, having already opened, apparently, for people as A-list as Beyonce, Akon, Snoop Dogg and John Legend. But it's really thanks to my good Amazon Friend, Nse, that this lady's CD found its way into my collection; if it hadn't been for his excellently written and glowing review of this album (see below), I honestly may not have heard of her or paid her any attention even if I had. He left me gagging to get my hands on it.

Asa weaves her way through songs of defiance, hope, life and wonder, sometimes in English and sometimes in Yoruba - a step I truly admire but a step that might limit her listener numbers nevertheless. Once again, it's all live instruments and lots of strings. She has a very sweet singing voice and I was swept along by her passionate and joyful delivery. I particularly love "Subway", "Eyé Àdabá" and "No One Knows Tomorrow". She wrote most of the songs herself, except for "Fire On The Mountain", "Jailer", "No One Knows" & "Subway", where she had help from Cobhams Asuquo, who produced the album, played a lot of the instruments and did a lot of the programming on it. Asa herself only played (acoustic guitar) on two of the ten tracks here ("Awé" and "So Beautiful") and I thought that was a bit odd, considering that she carries the guitar in almost every inner-sleeve shot, not to mention practically every publicity photo I've seen of her so far. Ah, well. Maybe she uses it primarily to write and when she performs live.

But it's all good and I'm very glad I bought the CD, so I'm very grateful to Brother Nse. It's really great fun to listen to. With this album and another very promising one called African Girl by Nayo coming out soon, it looks like this year, the Nigerians are coming. About bl**dy time.

There are times when you see something thought-provoking, hear an illuminating sound, or smell an intriguing scent, and you know that something about it just moves you and connects in a way that is rare.

I love it! That is how I felt when I heard the sound and music of Asa [pronounced Asha]. Her sound is so different and unexpected, and her music so fresh, that it was impossible for me not to go looking for more information about her, and to make sure to add everything that she has done to my budding collection. She has an important point of view and the message is unmistakeable in her music.

And I can't decide on which song is my favourite on her album...I've rarely been in this quandry (So Beautiful is the favourite of the minute, with Jailer, Fire on the mountain, 360 degrees, Bibanké, Subway, No one knows, Awé, and Peace coming in very close seconds!!)

I've been listlessly going through Rhapsody searching for something to strike my jaded fancy for a couple of days and then this lady simply knocked me over! It's been a real long time since I've been so moved by a new talent.

I could settle for the Rhapsody "to go" download I subscribe to but I've ordered the CD because I want to hear every nuance and simply to support this amazing new talent a little better.

Others have done better than I could possibly attempt as a critical review so I won't even try. There is no way this album could disappoint!

For the longest time I had become disenchanted with what passes as music these days, but when I heard Asha, My ears felt as if I had just heard something from heaven. I wanted to cry, but my heart was too filled with joy at the sound of such a beautiful voice. I love this woman's incredible voice.

"Sooo you treat me ... like a modern slave, Mr. Jailer!" With this exclamatory and poignant verse, 25 year-old Paris-born Nigerian singer-songwriter Asa (pronounced Ah-Shah) introduced herself to the United States' music scene with a thunderous message and a divinely-gifted voice for all times. Although the self-titled album has been available for less than a year in France and other parts of the world, it wasn't until January 27, 2009 that copies of its official release hit the streets of the U. S.

It is without any reservation the most powerful compilation of tracks to bellow out of Africa in close to two decades (sincerest apologies to artistes whose underachieving recordings in this period have failed to charter a course or incite pride in post-colonial Africa).

Up to now, a vast majority of African recording artistes have been all about simulating the most popular music in the West, aimlessly seeking to perfect those rhymes of the West with a little bit of "hit or miss" African twists here and there. For so long, the attitude has been to be more catholic than the Pope.

And this is exactly where Asa excels. Not bound or chained by this superficial emptiness, she lets off a resounding mixture of vocal wonder, an acoustic guitar, and an array of instruments common to the traditional African landscape that achieves an unmistakable symphony of soul, reggae, pop, African hi-life, and jazz. Her music, as you will hear, cannot be boxed in a genre.

On the first track of the album, Jailer, Asa takes on the establishment. It is no misconception that the colonialists that ravaged Africa never left, in lieu morphed into savage imperialists and remained. In a track that boasts a skillful blend of reggae and soul, Asa fearlessly states--you suppress all my strategies/you oppress every part of me ... you don't care about my point of view/if I die, another would work for you. And she sums all these up by appealing to the universality of the human fate--I have fears, you have fears too/I will die, but you self would die too/life is beautiful, don't you think so too Mr. Jailer?

And yet in a further proof that one does not have to shortchange melody for message, Asa delivers such wonderful pop and reggae themed tunes like "Fire On The Mountain" and `No One Knows" that could easily be singles in an album full of them. ("Fire On The Mountain" was an actual single).

Asa's indelible infusion of her native African dialect, Yoruba, and the English language on many tracks catapults this album into a top-notch production. Not only does she do this with such seamless grace, for the listener who understands the Yoruba language, she deftly uses popular adages and proverbs from the culture in lyrical verses.

What is an album without life experiences? And in this, Asa once again delivered. In what is a masterpiece love ballad, Bi'Ban Ke (If I'm Crying), Asa uses a web of English verses with an enigmatic, soulful, and powerful hook in Yoruba to deliver a truly unforgettable number. And the album is full of this--songs like "Subway," "Iba," "Awe," show a talent and gift very well beyond others. I continue to read testimonials of fans who say regardless of having no clue what she sings in Yoruba; they don't need to ... the music in itself is euphoric enough.

In "So Beautiful," the last track on the album, Asa pays homage to mothers everywhere. One is first introduced to a blues-like serenade of the mother that takes the tune of a peaceful ballad, when with a sudden and sharp twist; the listener is hit with a pleasurable batter of African drums that creates an up-tempo rhythm like no other. It is a triumphant sequence and moment in good music--one that cannot be savored in haste.

For so long, "message-less" tunes have flowed like aimless rivers from African albums, emptying into seas and oceans that care a nought. How long could the African listen to club and party bangers that do little to address the destituteness that covers vast regions of Sub-Saharan Africa?! Asa's music no doubt sets the new standard for the new African: you can have fun and still have a message. It no doubt encourages contemporary American artistes like Kanye West to continue to use African themes in songs like "Love Lockdown."

Her collaboration with Cobhams Asuquo, whom she describes as her "musical director" has been a blessing--regardless of being blind--has helped Asa deliver a sheer work of genius.

For the longest time I've been thirsty for music that can offer me something different, fresh, and more meaningful than the usual musical juice I generally hear playing on radio today (top 100 ). As I mature, my taste for music is evolving beyond the usual R&B/hip-hop blend that I've grown up listening to. Even listening to more laid back artist like Sade seem to offer no real musical stimulation for me lately (which is sad because Sade has great music). Who would have thought my love of music would be newly stimulated by this young artist. I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy listening to the depth and warmth of Asa's vocals mingled with what I describe as "simple" but summery instrumental tones. This has become one of my favorite CDs. "Jailer", "Fire on the Mountain", "Peace" and "So Beautiful" are my favorite tracks--yet the whole CD is great. I could probably go on and on about the life and substance that I feel this CD offers, but let me just end by stating: reward yourself by becoming encompassed in the musical beauty that Asa offers on her CD--buy it.

When I heard the first track (Jailer) I thought, "Wow! Who is this Yoruba girl?" Oya Asa's voice is amazing O! I listened to a few more tracks and then it happened. I started to weep. My emotions got the best of me when I heard "Eye Adaba". What an amazing song that is. And her voice: its Erykah Badu, its Macy Gray, its Corrine Bailey Rae, its Billie Holiday, its wonderful. And the lyrics are so powerful. The entire album is incredible. Thank God for this new talent! Can't wait for the next album.

I first heard about Asa on Sunday. That same evening, I listened for the first time to one of her songs on youtube. Later that night, I had listened to most of her songs, many times over. On Monday, as soon as I could, I ran to my local music shop to buy her CD (it was the only copy they had, lucky me!) and I've been listening to it ever since...

I've fallen in love...
How strange is that?

When I try to analyse this album, when I try to explain it to friends, it all falls flat. I can't seem to be able to explain it, really. I mean, honestly, if you take it apart, there's nothing groundbreaking here, nothing out of this world, nothing revolutionary... Good tunes, with good lyrics, a nice voice, good musicianship and a polished production... But when I listen to her songs, it's so much more than that... something happens... out of the mixture of all these good and solid elements comes something else all together, something really unique and out-of-worldly, something truly magical... I've listened to her songs for a whole week now, and I'm still just as moved as the first time. No joke, this girl brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to her.

Is it her disarming sincerity and total lack of arrogance? Is it the way she pronounces each word, each sound as if she was lovingly savouring it before sending it out as a gift to the world? Is it the love that overflows from her songs even when she's singing about painful and not so pleasant things?

Asa is a gifted singer-songwriter, no doubt about that. She will be a star, no matter what, she will go far. But more importantly, she is a specially gifted human being, who has this ability to touch people in a deep and meaningful way.

Thank you Asa for such beauty.

This Asa CD is great, very uplifting and catchy, I've had some of the songs stuck in my head for days, but it's actually OK because they're so good.

First heard her on an NPR interview, and I'm so glad I got this CD. This woman is going places, and there's still some room for polishing the finished product, so we will no doubt see bigger releases from her in the future. Probably much bigger.