Ogranya continues to grow with the 'Imperfect' [EP Review]
This is still a commendable EP. Ogranya continues to grow and experiment with his artistry.
The new wave of Port Harcourt acts are the most exciting crop of talent from one locale since the Abuja 2017 generation. These artists are filled with the power of refreshing originality and vocal energy. Ogranya is one of them and he is mighty talented.
The first time I came across his music was 2017 and the song was titled, 'Black Widow' on SoundCloud. What stuck were his lyric tenor voice type, his use of that voice type and his vocal range for appropriate and experimental backing vocal as well as his ability to convey honesty with his words. Even when his lyrics are obviously fictional or hypothetical, you connect with them.
It's a rare, yet unique trait that only the greats possess. While he's yet to showcase their range with his music, he's like a cross between Bez, Chike, Funbi and Tay Iwar. What sets him apart from those guys is that he treats topics extensively before leaving them to progress to other issues. The first time this writer noticed this was on 'If I Leave You Tomorrow.'
While this writer had forgotten Ogranya's name, a friend of his mentioned Ogranya again in third-quarter 2019. Then, something happened; in the same week, Sounds From The Basement Gig Vol. 1 dropped and sitting on it were amazing upcoming Nigerian talent woven together in their creative mesh looking to form part of one project.
While the album had some beautiful songs, 'She' was the best song on it, made by Ogranya. The song is a masterfully written ode to a memorable woman who stands out with everything from her scent to her dance moves.
That made this writer go back to Ogranya's earlier released EP, Eden Evermore. On it, he cemented something that had been bubbling; his ability to sometimes sound like a 70's soul singer under the dimly light of a dive bar in the middle of Oklahoma, US. For that reason, this writer vowed to review his next body of work because he anticipated some form of growth - he was right.
While Ogranya maintains all the things that this writer noticed before, he experiments with more afro-centric drums on his new project, Imperfect. In addition, it seems like his octaves expanded - if possible.
The EP opens up to 'Bleeding' and it seems a post-break-up song or the chronicles of a rocky relationship. Ogranya cuts into the heart of the afro-percussion supported by what Nigeria now calls 'alte' strings with the might of his vocals. As he vows to fight for a love that seems intent on drifting into the abyss.
While Ogranya says that he never meant to hurt the girl, he did hurt her. This is just impeccable songwriting that seems like petrichor. 'Wicked Somebody' continues the alte-esque sonic direction. The song sees Ogranya point fingers of accusation at a woman - played by Ghanaian singer, Efya Nokturnal.
She replies that, "Yes, my love is wicked but it's yours..." This relationship seems like tales of a reluctant man who seems stuck in a vicious, toxic love affair with a problematic woman. This was the lead single for Imperfect.
'Imperfect' is a ballad and the title-track for the EP. As the tiitle-track for this EP, it sees Ogranya embody a character who examines his own shortcomings. He admits his own imperfections and hopes his women never forgets it. But instead, he hopes she loves him with those imperfections. However, instead of the love he craves, he gets pity from the woman he wants.
'Luna' is dedicated to a woman who presumably carries that name. The woman makes Ogranya's character levitate. Well, isn't that something? On 'Don't Leave Me,' Ogranya sings from the perspective of a man trying to hold on to a drifting relationship. 'Serenade' sees Ogranya try to ask a woman out.
What started as a soliloquy then becomes a conversation - albeit one-sided. This might be the best song on this EP.
Final Thoughts
Ogranya delivers both vocally and lyrically. That's not surprising if you've been following the singer. The problem is the execution of this EP. While the regular listener doesn't care about the shortcomings of projects like this because they hold you in their love-themed bowels and serenade you with offerings, there is something as elevating a listener's experience.
One of the ways to achieve that is track listing and track arrangement. When a project is love-themed with a sound like Ogranya found on this EP, you can arrange any way you want and nobody would notice shortcomings. However, track listing should find a way to achieve two things; sonic progression/cohesion and topical progression/cohesion.
Ogranya didn't achieve topical progression on this EP which would have been better arranged thus;
Serenade
Luna
Imperfect
Wicked Somebody
Don't Leave Me
Bleeding
This arrangement would have positioned the EP as the chronicles of a problematic relationship which the protagonist hopes to hold on to. It would have started out with the flirtation of 'Serenade,' then hit the love-obsessed 'Luna' before the admission of incompleteness on 'Imperfect.' Then, the problems of the protagonist's imperfection would have started with the finger-pointing of 'Wicked Somebody.'
Then, he would have been left fighting for the relationship he almost ruined with his own imperfection on 'Don't Leave Me' and 'Bleeding.' However this EP was arranged, it will have sonic progression/cohesion. What it lacks is topical progression/cohesion. The new track list would have done that.
As the tracklist is on DSPs, a listener's experience would have been fine, but it limits this project and its potential. It also makes the project lack a nucleus. On the sonic side, there is a lot of sonic cohesion on Imperfect as all the beats seem cut from a similar cloth. However, if there's something like that, it's almost too cohesive, it almost sounds monotonous.
Nonetheless, this is still a commendable EP. Ogranya continues to grow and experiment with his artistry.
Ratings: /10
• 0-1.9: Flop
• 2.0-3.9: Near fall
• 4.0-5.9: Average
• 6.0-7.9: Victory
• 8.0-10: Champion
Pulse Rating: /10
Tracklist: 0.5/2
Content and Themes: 1.7/2
Production: 1.8/2
Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.5/2
Execution: 1.0/2
Total:
6.5 - Victory
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