Album Review: With ''Colours I Hear'', Mosa makes you sit up and listen

A debut album either stands an artist apart or sees him fishing for current trend, Mosa has chosen the former with ''Colours I Hear'' and the result is an album worthy of praise.

In a country where RnB music is fast becoming music from the past and when it would have been easier to jump on present trends, Mosa is sticking to his roots as he debuts ''Colours I Hear''.

Mosadoluwa Adegboye a.k.a Mosa may not be known to many just yet but if he keeps on delivering music just like he dished on his debut album, ''Colours I hear'', then it is only a matter of time before his name makes the round on the lips of music lovers.

Mosa is credited with working with TY Bello on her classic album, ''Greenland'' and the producer/singer has also worked with Tiwa Savage on a number of her albums.

Now he is making the move into the spotlight as after many years of working behind the scenes, he feels it is time he fully showcases the singing part to his talent.

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His single, 'Femi', released in 2015, made him one to look out for but it is three years down the line and we now have a full body of work to properly scale his abilities.

Some artists choose to kick-start their careers by jumping on what is trending in an attempt at catching the attention of the mainstream numbers, while for some, their debut album is an opportunity to create something special and leave a mark on the scene.

For Mosa, the latter is his calling as on the album, as he expresses himself in unending pages of love over the 11 track body of work.

What is RnB music without a song about heartbreak? this is what Mosa serves on the album lead, 'Doubt It', as he pours out his heart to his girl, this is a strong opener which welcomes you to his rich vocals.

On 'Still', a song he says is about a guy who has a love interest, he sings about a wandering lover and his lady who can't seem to make up her mind.

'He Lied' is enchanting music, where he simply steals the heart of his young lover.

 

'Cliches - '18'98'78' features impressive songwriting as he spins a modern day tale of unoriginal love expressions, and songs like 'Sorry, Not Sorry (Freestyle)', 'Plans', 'Feel It' all fit into the album's direction.

'Grey' talks about his worst mistakes, as he begs for a second chance

The production for 'Let Me Be The One' is upbeat and makes for a good dance song, while the album closer, 'Battle Scars', is one of the highlights of the album with the imposing vocals and production that casts a spell on you.

 

The song features a female voice (the only guest on the project) that totally blows your mind away as she sings about fighting for love, this is fire.

The first thing that caught my critic mind was how the songs are totally delivered in English, with the production not in any way playing to the gallery of Afrocentricism or attempting to be seen as trying to belong.

Some may consider this as a minus considering the market he is trying to win over, but Mosa is unapologetically a student of pure unadulterated RnB music, the type that was created in the 70s, made gold in the 80s and lost in the 90s, this is music that makes you fall in love, even when there is no lover in sight.

The album also has the tendencies of getting too monotonous in its love stories, but outside these minor hitches, ''Colours I Hear'' is a well-told story.

His voice is punchy, the plots are well expressed, the writing is modern and the stories buoyant, Mosa keeps each track engaging even after multiple listens as the individual songs are related from different angles.

''Colours I Hear'' breathes new life into the circles of Nigerian RnB and even when it slumbers, there is enough intimacy in the music to reinvigorate its appeal.

All in all, Mosa's sleek approach to making music may just have delivered one of the finest body of works for 2018.

Rating: 4/5

Ratings

1-Dull
2-Boring
2.5-Average
3-Worth Checking Out
3.5-Hot
4-Smoking Hot
4.5-Amazing
5-Perfection