EP Review: Juls takes a new sweet road on ‘Ojekoo’ EP

Juls continues his progression through African music, redefining sounds, blending genres and offering an experimental-yet-refreshing take on sound formations.

Extended Play - Ojekoo
Artist - Juls
Record Label - Effyzie (2017)
Duration - 63 minutes

This isn’t the Juls that you know. This is different. It’s a version of the producer that we have waited this long to experience.

We were first introduced to Juls via Mr Eazi. The producer crafted the sound that powered the Banku Music singer across Ghana to Africa and the world. And to properly document that, Juls made an EP – “Leap Of Faith” – which properly curated and presented the sound.

 

He is back this time, a new man with a new vibe to introduce into the scene. On “Ojekoo” the new 7-track EP featuring Adekunle Gold, Nonso Amadi, Bisa Kdei, Moelogo, Tay Iwar and more, things are not the same.

What you get here are pure African vibes, mined from various parts of the continent, and blended to offering a diverse set of projects.

 

Opener ‘Agoro’ has Adekunle Gold and Bisa Kdei, two Highlife maestros from Nigeria and Ghana combine on a comfortable percussion-led instrumentals to celebrate the good life. It’s a throwback to the glorious  70’s Highlife, which moved from Ghana to Nigeria, creating a sound that has become distinctively local. Moelogo, DJ Tunez, and Siza embrace House on ‘Oshey’, as the Nigerian singer croons for the love of his life. Siza’s inclusion is an ambient, ominous chant. It pushes this record over the edge, into a place called happiness.

On ‘Your corner’, frequent collaborator, Nonso Amadi delivers his characteristic smoothness and songwriting. Things hit a Caribbean note on ‘December’, where Tay Iwar and Culan ride through the evenings of Jamaica, wooing a lover. They meet Burna Boy, who finishes things off with the syrupy ‘Gwarn’.

 

Juls continues his progression through African music, redefining sounds, blending genres and offering an experimental-yet-refreshing take on sound formations. ‘Ojekoo’s live instrumentation is the biggest addition here, with the guitars lining up every record with a presence that is in itself, pure genius.

Get "Ojekoo" on Apple Music.