Sauti Sol "Vivre et mourir en afrika" : Revue d'album

03 déc Sauti Sol "Vivre et mourir en afrika" : Revue d'album

Kenyan boy band Sauti Sol have finally released their highly anticipated 3rd studio album “Live and Die in Afrika” after teasing their fans with blurred images of the cover art a few days before the release. The album has been released off their label Sauti Sol Entertainment and it features the singles ‘Sura Yuko’, ‘Shake Yo Bam Bam’, ‘Isabella’ and the title track ‘Live and Die in Afrika’. The album is self-produced and makes use of various sounds to create what is a clear testament of how much they have evolved since the release of their debut album ‘Mwanzo’ in 2009.

The first track, Sura Yako has a traditional East African sound, it is laced with awesome guitar riffs and drumming that creates a rhythm that you can’t help but dance to. The track could easily become a wedding anthem so it only makes sense that the music video chronicles the customs that are followed in a traditional Kenyan pre-wedding ceremony.

The title track Live and Die in Afrika is an ode to Africa, its rich history and resources and the desire that all Africans have to continue creating history. The visuals for this jam were released about a weak ago, set in Nairobi, it features Sauti Sol performing on a rooftop and visiting a busy market.

The next couple of songs slow down the tempo of the album. ‘Say Yeah’ and ‘Isabella’ are both sweet love songs that will have any person on the receiving of such lyrics blushing uncontrollably. ‘Say Yeah’ takes a traditional route with lines like “Sweet African Daughter, I wanna bring cows to your mama”. Both tracks are basically mack anthems, the best kind of mack anthem. ‘It’s Okay’ has a Latin-inspired melody while ‘Nishike’ is a very sexy song that you should probably avoid listening to while you’re around your parents. ‘Still The One’ is as they say in the intro “another one for the ladies”, it is a soul and R&B- inspired track, one I would dub “an ode to bae”.

‘Nerea’ is a pretty heavy song, quite heartbreaking actually. It features Amos & Josh and tackles the topic of abortion from the male perspective. ‘Kuliko Jana’ features Aaron Rimbui and it has major gospel element as they call out to God, asking Him to see them through their troubled times.

The last couple of songs on the album are more upbeat and are probably going to have everyone in the club turning up hard! ‘Sambo Party’, ‘Nipe Nikushe’ and ‘Shake Yo Bam Bam‘ are all turn up jams. The music video for Shake Yo Bam Bam was released a while back, check that out below.

Overall, the album is quite exceptional, I would give it an 8/10. The production is on point and Sauti Sol delivers on every level possible. Best songs are Isabella and Live and Die in Afrika, least favourite song would have to be Dollar Dollar.

Would I recommend that you get the album? Of Course

Listen on: iTunes//Deezer//Simfy