Ibibio Sound Machine is an electronic afro-funk band from London, England consisting of frontwoman Eno Williams, guitarist Alfred Bannerman, percussionist Afla Sackey, drummer Joseph Amoako, bassist Philip Ambrose, trombonist/keyboardist Tony Hayden, trumpeter/keyboardist Scott Baylis & saxophonist/keyboardist Max Grunhard. Introducing themselves a decade ago on the eponymous debut, they would show some growth on the sophomore effort Uyai & Doko Mien would go on to be just ok. Electricity couple years ago on the contrary surpassed Uyai as the band’s crowning achievement in their discography & went into the band’s 5th full-length debut maintaining that level of quality.
The title track starts by fusing mutant punk & electro with dance-punk & indietronica repetitively encouraging to pull the rope regardless of how eager we are to go for it whereas “Got to Be Who U Are” treads the synth-funk waters with additional elements of electro-boogie & disco not-disco singing about always being the same no matter where we are. “Fire” moves on from there cautioning not to get burned by experimenting with alternative dance a bit, but then “Them Say” futuristically lets y’all know who they are.
“Political Incorrect” continues the socially charged themes from the track before mixing dance-punk & even a hint of synth-funk in comparison leading into “Mama Say” blending electro, mutant disco & even a hint of electropop seeking to empower & uplift the women in our lives. “Let My Yes Be Yes” puts her own triumphant spin on Matthew 5:37 while the synth-driven “Touch the Ceiling” passionately talks about making it to the top when it’s all said & done. “Far Away” has this soulful, funk rock flare to it addressing those who see from a distance & “Dance in the Rain” ends on some electro-highlife shit for you to vibe out to during rainy weather.
Eno & company maintain the hope, joy & sexiness that they became known except they further honing the edge Electricity. This is done by expanding the sounds of electro, afro-funk, synth-funk, afrobeats, electro-disco, dance-punk & mutant disco carried over from the predecessor by throwing in influences of highlife, synthpop & alternative dance. The connection that the bands aim to foster has shifted venues from the sunny buoyancy of a sunlit festival to a sweat-soaked, all-night dance club & you’re still having a good time even with the atmosphere changing.
Score: 3.5/5
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