STYLE: World RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 175655-28949 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: Digital Only Mini-album RELEASE DATE: 2019-02-23
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
Self-styled pioneers of Afro Gospel, Nigerian Afrobeat artists Gil Joe and Emmanuel Nkamare (stage name NKay) have teamed up to release a mini album of songs that contain a laid back mix of West African rhythms and gentle electronic sounds to good effect. The overriding theme here is the difference Jesus can make in a life with tracks like "Do", "Better" and "With Me" all offering up worship and thanks to God whilst the stripped back "Issa No" is a song of defiance against those who try to tempt people away from the faith - especially poignant given the sizeable challenges that Christians in the boys' homeland are currently facing. An augmented take on the Mary Mary smash "Shackles" is also included and, whilst there needs to be a lot more stylistic variety for their work to truly stand out, this offering from Joe and NKay is a pleasing enough addition to the now burgeoning canon of Afrobeat music.
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