Abiola Time
Aladé, 2022
8/10
A very cultured and multi-dimensional artist, Abiola has experience in Latin sounds as well as jazz, and the songs here reflect a global influence that showcases tremendous melodies and strong attention to rhythm.
“Kilofe” opens the listen with animated percussion and plenty of flowing rhythm amid Abiola’s alluring pipes, and “Give Me” follows with R&B and dance floor nods that emit a very lively energy.
“What We’ll Be” arrives in the middle, and flows with a romantic quality that’s got plenty of bop and pop moments, while “Ko Le To” recruits a charming Afrobeat sound that’s not short on grooves and funk song craft.
Near the end, “Para Ti, Para Mi” lands in Caribbean territory, and offers a breezy, maracas flavored album highlight, and “Feel This Good” exits the listen with an aptly titled display of exciting, bluesy jam sensibilities and world music fun.
An extremely colorful, rich and precisely textured affair, Abiola delivers an impressive debut album, and it’s one that will resonate across the globe.
Travels well with: Angela O’Neill And The Outrageous 8- Light At The End Of The Tunnel; The Grace Fox Big Band- Eleven O’Seven