Review of Ayo's "Joyful"; Plus Link to My Space Tracks

Ayo performing live. Her CD "Joyful" debuted on November 20, 2007 in the United States.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

PANW Editor's Note: Listen to three tracks from Ayo's recently released US debut CD entitled "Joyful" by clicking on the URL below:

http://www.myspace.com/ayo
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Ayo

Joyful
[Polydor]
Artist: Ayo
Released: 2007-09-10
Catalogue number: 9849332

Review by Paul Sullivan
07 September 2007

Having already won over the hearts and charts of Europe (Top Twenty in Germany; Platinum in France), German-born chanteuse Ayo now brings her easy going soulfolk sound to the UK. The daughter of a Nigerian father and Romanian Gypsy, Ayo has recently spent time in London, Paris and NYC; meaning that not only are her genetic credentials satisfyingly heterogeneous, but there’s plenty of media-friendly ‘urban cool’ in her story too.

Even more propitious perhaps, is the fact that Joyful, her debut album, was produced by none other than Jay “Norah Jones” Newland, a man who has oodles of experience in the jazz and soul worlds and a canny knack of crafting mainstream pop hits. “Down On My Knees,” the album’s opener, is set to a sparse reggae-lite groove and establishes Ayo as a capable, passionate vocalist who can switch it up between sultry/sexy and saccharine-sweet with consummate ease.

The subtly Latino lament “Without You,” with its warm accordion and hairline Hammond follows, along with the harmonica-driven “Letter By Letter,” and the strangely hypnotic waltz “And it’s Supposed To Be Love”.

The reggae-folk of “Only You” and the sassier skank of “Help Is Coming” buoy the album’s mellow mood, but doubts creep in when the record fails to gain any real pace, or break away from the same keep-it-safe formula that tends to plague Norah Jones’ records.

Ballads like “Watching You” break almost every cliche in the lyric-book - “You made my dreams come true”/”So addicted to your love”/You’ll always have the best place in my heart” - utterly dampening any genuine emotion wrought from Ayo’s voice. “These Days” and the finale “Neva Been” go the same route; ironically enough, the latter tune finally builds up to a much longed-for funk-soul workout...sadly, it’s too late. Overall, the songs here are technically good and Ayo is an authentic talent.

Perhaps in the hands of a different producer Joyful may have lived up to its name and created waves of ecstasy and exultation amongst the masses; as it stands, its appeal will be limited to the coffee table crowd.

Comments

Paul, Salford
Ayo's Joyful is an outstanding debut album. Which takes you on a musical jorney from hope to despair. merging musical genra with ease of pace, unlike any artist around at the moment. Paul Sullivan has not given this album much of a chance. He is longing for something (Funk - Soul workout) which would take the soul right out of this Joyful album.

A, London
Coffee table bunch or not; the mix & blend of sounds is very interesting and soothing.I ordered the album from the States (took about 10 weeks) after reading about it in a review and also in an interview with Denzel Washington in a newspaper.The underlying african (Nigerian - juju music) and folksy-latin european beats marries with a rich (and unusual voice) in the track - And It's Supposed to Be Love. Very catchy!Other tracks, are a mix of various musical genre - reggae, folk, Afro beats (think Fela Kuti without the horns) and Smooth soul.....and with yet again, and again, the magical voice -JOY. For what is worth - get it, listen and let the music grow on you.