Album Review: Harrysong's “Kingmaker” crown's no one but himself

The pop life chose Harrysong for commercial reasons, and “Kingmaker” celebrates his freedom to generate value solely for himself.

Album - Kingmaker
Artist - Harrysong
Record Label -Alterplate Music (2017)
Duration - 63 minutes

Harrysong has a reputation: He’s the super songwriter with a credit that stretches through decades, spanning from Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, to Kcee. His personal output hasn’t impressed in quantity, but it is effective in its pop stylings.  

Drawing from Highlife, Salsa, Rumba, and Makossa, Harrysong dives deep into cultural sounds and reimagines them with a Nigerian delivery targeted at the pop market. His artistry is unashamedly unidirectional. He is unashamed because it works. He might not always score the top record in the country, but he stays in the conversation with a string of releases traversing major corners of Nigeria.

What makes tick is simple. A former chorister, Harrysong took the long road to stardom. He has served many masters, displaying patience and long-suffering. But he chooses the perfect timing for personal and professional progress. He moved from Question Mark Entertainment to Five Star Music in 2013, when he recognized Kcee’s solo star was on the verge of a breakthrough. That move finally gave him the opportunity to assault pop music, which he carried out successfully, peaking in 2016 with the record “Reggae Blues.’

In 2017, he has come a long way. He declared independence from Five Star, navigated lawsuits from Kcee, launched his company, Alterplate Music, and put together an album. These achievements, coupled with his songwriting, influenced his decision to name his album “Kingmaker.”

 

The album opens traditionally. Intro ‘E no easy’ is built around mellow R&B flutes and drums over which the singer offers gratitude to his supporters, singing “Thank you for your support.” It’s also a roll call to his lieutenants, inclusive of Five Star Music’s ex-manager, Soso Soberekon. But that’s where he his careerist theme ends. He rushes to the dance floor straight away.

Most of the album’s 17 tracks obey the integrity of his winning formula – A cultural sound (preferably Highlife), with indigenous gongs, live instrumentation, and the most basic but amusing lyrics. His insistence on this sound might find the project a little tiring. ‘Donatus’ introduces an Igbotic M.I Abaga in character. ‘Money dey’ is a Makossa delight, while ‘Abeg na’ is a retro apology record, dominated by plucky guitars and a long melodic whine. There is a genuine sense of happiness, romance and wellbeing running through “Kingmaker.” You can take that to local bars and dance floors, and much of it would be hits.

Where the album picks up musically is where Harrysong dares to break out of character. He pushes himself, experimentally lifting the project in the process. The impressive ‘Confessions’, a reggae-influenced cut has Patoranking and Seyi Shay dispensing energy. ‘Yoyoyo’ is an interest Salsa take on the creator’s ability, and at random moments, he crosses the finish line a fulfilled man. Elsewhere, the melancholic vibe of ‘Sampo’ is psychedelic. But where he soars, he crashes to normalcy on the ill-advised ‘Trap madam.’

Harrysong travels a lot in his mind, creating music from culture and the cross-pollination of sounds. But the pop life chose him for commercial reasons, and “Kingmaker” celebrates his freedom to generate value solely for himself.

Rating: 3.5/5

Ratings

1-Dull
2-Boring
2.5-Average
3-Worth Checking Out
3.5-Hot
4-Smoking Hot
4.5-Amazing
5-Perfection

SOURCE - PULSE.NG posted by Campus94