These days in music, it's easy to describe relatively new artists as apparent clones of well-established ones. This is not the case with Ugochi. The Nigerian-American's second independent release, A.S.E., is clear, audible proof. The singer, songwriter and spoken word artist describes her sound as Afro Soul (a combination of R&B, gospel, soul samba, jazz reggae and Afrobeat). Sounds deep, huh? It is. There's even a warning to listeners on the CD case: "The effect of this brand of music is transformative to its listeners' all over the globe." Listeners should take heed.
From the first track, "Tell Me," listeners may feel like they need passports because it's taking them to another place, where secular and spiritual sounds co-exist in a melodic, Utopian universe. Selections include non-manufactured piano, percussion, guitar, bata (talking drum) and more sounds that immediately envelope listeners.
One of the standout tracks, "Fly Away," featuring Babou Chico, would make Bob Marley beam with pride. The powerful mesh of both Ugochi 's and Chico's voices ensure a steady, unconditional source of comfort and understanding. The "Ivory Coast" version of the song makes it even better, featuring attention-getting horns. A secret love is uncovered on the enthralling "Taboo." Listeners can feel the heartache and hope for positive reciprocation in each note.
Ugochi, the Chicago native who also serves as executive producer on the project, addresses the "9/11 recession" on the stop-think-and-jam track, "Death Toll." Topics such as hunger, police brutality, AIDS, "video pollution," violence and more are examined. She shows off her eloquent spoken word talent on "Scattered Seeds," which calls all men to take their place as the head of the families they create. "Breathe" features a funky backdrop, encouraging a sense of centeredness and peace. Other tracks continue to feature clear production and positive lyrics.
It's undoubtedly no coincidence that A.S.E. spells out the West African (Yoruba) word that sometimes translates to "amen" or "it is so." After one listen of this CD, listeners who have a genuine love for music and meaningful lyrics will definitely have "ase" on their lips.