Description
Beautiful Imperfection is the sophomore album by the Nigerian-French singer and songwriter Asa, released on Naive Records in October 2010.
With new found confidence, this is how singer, songwriter and musician Asa describes her new album, Beautiful Imperfection. Following on from her self-titled debut album, released worldwide in 2007, the Nigerian songstress Asa personifies evolution with her sophomore effort. “The first album reflected my state of mind then” Asa says. “I had a lot to talk about – social and political issues. This time, I felt different: I wanted to create something that would help people come out of sad moods and feel uplifted.”
And that she has. The album’s lead single «Be My Man», an up-tempo rock-tinged track with hints of 1960s soul, sees Asa in romantic mode, as she sweetly croons to her love interest. Guitar-driven «Why Can’t We», laced with strong horns and beautiful harmonies is undoubtedly a toe-tapper. And the feel-good essence of easy-listening track «Dreamer Girl» could easily cause listeners to close their eyes and get lost in Asa’s soft and floaty vocals.
Asa’s previous, self-titled, album produced the Cross Rhythms radio hit «360 Degrees» and now this equally delicious set of Nigerian pop, radio-friendly songs will surely generate more. Luxuriate in the early summer warmth of the opener «Why Can’t We», the sunniest number since Corinne Bailey Rae sang about her record collection. Elsewhere themes get darker with important questions raised about a war torn world on «May Be» while the pure pop effervescence of «Be My Man», driven by an electric piano and some delightful trombone work, ensures that it will get repeat plays on many a stereo. If you’re looking for something less Western the lolloping reggae groove of «Bimpe» and the brittle, haunting beauty of «Bro Da Ole» where Asa’s acoustic guitar is accompanied by a gently swelling orchestration are deft delights. Through all, Asa’s eerily delicate tones with their bitter-sweet cadences reach out and grab the listener. Her lyrics abound with naïve simplicity whether she’s singing to a guy she’s falling for (“Ooh baby, we can take a walk around the park/ And I can cook you dinner, it won’t be so bad”) or to God (“Oh Lord, I’ve been very greedy/ I worshiped money and wouldn’t help the needy/ Their pains just don’t move me/ What am I and who have I become?”). I can hear few imperfections on ‘Beautiful Imperfection’. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, March 2011]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-imperfection/1464144192)
CD tracklist:
01. Why Can’t We
02. May Be
03. Be My Man
04. Preacher Man
05. Bimpe
06. The Way I Feel
07. Ok Ok
08. Dreamer Girl
09. Ore
10. Baby Gone
11. Broda Ole
12. Questions
Note: Released on both CD and 12-inch vinyl LP by Naive Records.
[youtube_sc url=”” playlist=”PqbmBM-z72s,_TU27aqRN5A,MNUgJMDsOuY,YUXFuvNR7qw,QOA_wU9biyE,mZy8cE4yQ74,L8NjP1G5FPw,ndgD4xbX3vQ,hNRJNMnsNBY,3JUp_nEVugQ,MfdEwn0Fr9s,L_Mj1wjWIoQ,e_XN0KKotFo,jS3lg3KpTTA” title=”Asa, Beautiful Imperfection – ” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
[youtube_sc url=”” playlist=”MNUgJMDsOuY,MNUgJMDsOuY,mZy8cE4yQ74,PqbmBM-z72s,ls17pd8rehw” title=”Asa – Be My Man + The Way I Feel + Why Can’t We + Preacher Man” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.