Electricity

Four albums in, and Ibibio Sound Machine are showing no signs of slowing down. Bursting with purpose, Electricity offers hope grasped from the clutches of an existential crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its opener ‘Protection from Evil’ is bold and brash, featuring a storming bassline and defiant vocal work from Eno Williams. This mood prevails through its title-track, questioning the validity of seemingly empty terms like ‘equality’ and ‘sentimentality.’ Often words are spoken without conviction, Williams concluding that ‘to me it’s all the same. Without love there’s no electricity.’

The album is produced by Hot Chip, the first time Ibibio have worked with outside producers since their formation. And while it works in general, their influence can be overbearing, its overwrought synth lines characteristic of a sound that went off the boil in the late 2000s. But when Williams is afforded space, it really shines. Album closer ‘Freedom’ was inspired by the water drumming practice of Cameroon’s Baka women. Its freneticism is captivating, and the intersection between Williams’ voice and the dense programmed drums is resoundingly upbeat. You can never accuse Ibibio Sound Machine of stagnating, and this record – despite its producers’ best efforts – is far from a chip off the old block.