Album review: Omawumi’s ‘Lasso of truth’ is deeply filling but not totally satisfying

by Wilfred Okiche

omawunmi

‘Lasso of truth’ is a solid piece of work, better by far than most of the albums put out this year so far.

The album art of Omawumi’s sophomore effort, ‘Lasso of truth’ has the big voiced singer in her most photographed position. Not a position per se but an up close photo of her face and big hair. It seems to be her favourite pose and save for the scrawling of the word ‘truth’ in different dialects, could have been the cover of her debut album ‘Wonder woman’.

Same way the album’s content perfectly mirrors ‘Wonder woman’s ‘ afro pop stylings from start to finish. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it seems to be the main theme here so ‘Lasso of truth’ becomes, not the stripped down confessional one may have been expecting, but a sort of redux edition of her debut. There is a palpable unwillingness to explore. It is ‘The Hangover 2’- more rehash than sequel.

It opens with that chunky slice of Cobhams Asuquo goodness, ‘If you ask me’, a groovy, melodious tune of betrayal and incest that never ages and remains as enjoyable and relevant as it was upon release.

The thrust continues with the second number, ‘When the boss is coming (actor sef dey run)’a pulsating techno thriller with a title that would be unusual for any other artiste. But Omawumi is a lady who once sang about breeze blowing and fowl nyash opening – convincingly and with a straight face too. Dr Frabz returns to take writing credits here.

She hits the high notes effortlessly on the love ballads ‘The best you can be’ and ‘Life goes on’ (with Afay) but her intentions and talent lie beyond belting the blues. She is an amazon, proud and free on the Don Jazzy produced danceathon, ‘The African way’, threatening and uncompromising on the raga-tinged‘I go go’, wise and cautious on the slow burning but all consuming house anthem ‘Stay alive (Jeje Laiye)’

All of these songs could be potential hit singles but Omawumi is leaving nothing to chance, incorporating some of pop music’s biggest names to secure that all-important market. The results are mixed. The 2face assisted ‘What a bang bang’- heavy in content but lightweight in delivery is a sizzler, easily one of the album’s best songs but the Wizkid duet ‘Warn yourself’ is so lazy and unimpressive, it takes the disc to it’s lowest ebb. The pairing with Flavor on Herbert Udemba’s classic ‘Bottom belle’ is nothing short of seamless but she is just so so with Timaya on the Young D produced ‘Personal race.’

‘Lasso of truth’ is a solid piece of work, better by far than most of the albums put out this year so far. So why aren’t we jumping out of our boots in excitement?  Well, there is a niggling unsatisfying feeling the album presents even after multiple listens that has nothing to do with it’s concise length.

Omawumi is not your run off the mill accidental pop star. She is the wonder woman, answering to no man. Wielding her lasso and striking the truth into the hearts of men.

She can do more.

————————–

Wilfred Okiche tweets from @drwill20

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail