I’ve been lucky enough to have had a copy of ‘Songs Of Icons’ for over a year now and I thought it was time to write a review. The singles ‘Asokere’, ‘Oba Awon Oba’ and next up ‘Kabioye’ have been very well received with remixes from IG Culture, Afronaught, Mark De-Clive Lowe and Restless Soul. These are all ace but it’s the originals that you’ll keep going back to.
I’m not sure all 12 tracks will make it to the final release but whichever tracks see the light of day, this will be an essential purchase. Lekan has played on percussion with some of the finest musicians known to man; Roy Ayers, Pharaoh Sanders, Miles Davis and Fela Kuti. It’s no surprise ‘Songs Of Icons’ is very heavily influenced by his upbringing in Nigeria and jamming with the legends, giving us a mix of tribal rhythms with some wonderful brass solos and hooks. Highlights for me are ‘Oososi’, ‘Oya’, ‘Ide Osun’ and of course the singles mentioned above, which of course you’ll already own.
Half-way through writing this review I received notification this will be released by the end of 2005, fingers crossed.
