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Review

Album Review: Lyricson - African Dream

10/07/2024

by Gardy Stein

This is what I call synchronicity! I’m writing this review in Guinea, the country where Souleymane Boukara aka Lyricson was born in 1979, and his new album African Dream is released on October 2^nd, the day this West-African nation celebrates its 66^th Independence Day. On the 14 tracks included, Lyricson has tapped both into the musical heritage of his forefathers and the strong influence of US, European and Jamaican artistic oeuvres (after starting his musical formation in Guinea, he went to Liberia and then emigrated to Boston, MA, in his twenties before collaborating with producers all over Europe).

The first track Black Man Liberation neatly combines these two approaches. Roots reggae meets traditional African melodies! A heavy bass firmly grounds the riddim and provides a fitting background for the serious lyrics, while a light kora theme and the singer’s high-pitched voice top it off with brighter hues. Even more pronounced, this double inspiration is perceivable, respectively, in the Djembe and E-guitar soli on Strickly Love, as well as in the talking drums contribution by Abdoulaye Sissoko on Africa Rise Up (and in the latter’s lyrics of course, calling for decolonization and a return to former greatness).

The most audible livication to Mama Africa is a track called Farafina (the name for the black continent in Mande languages) on which we hear the incredible skills of Mamadi Diabaté on kora, Mamadou Sow on flute and Legre Nahouri Franck Thibaut on percussions. Next to Lyricson himself, who sings in English, the impressive vocals of Guinean singer Sekouba Kandia Kouyaté add Mandinka and French to the mix (Sarah Gnaly chiming in sweet harmonies), and together they pray for a blessed future – their African dream!

Other songs bear proof of the connections Lyricson has established in Jamaica over the years of his career. Thus, both Jah Glory and What A World were recorded in Kingston, featuring musicians such as "Dusty" Miller on drums, Donald Dennis on bass, Mitchum "Khan" Chin on guitar, Paul "Wrongmove" Crosdale on keys and even the great Dean Fraser on horns. While the former track gives praises to the Most High in typical Rastafarian lingo, the latter invites Duane Stephenson to the mic to sing about the vision of a better world which, according to them, can be realized “if we all came as one, put our differences aside, stop the fuss and fight”. Another great Jamaican singer is featured on Peace And Meditation, to which Jah Mason adds his characteristic voice and energy. Kaboom!

With Lion’s Roar, the album has a hit song, too, despite its slightly dubious beginning. Featured artist Jah Bouks is on top form on the track’s chorus, powerfully proclaiming how Babylon “can’t trap di youths inna dem evil no more”. Instant pull-up‼! Another highlight is definitely African Queen, an homage to the motherland’s female population. It comes on a warm and joyful roots riddim, recorded with live instruments by musicians such as Kouadio Kan Gedeon on bass, Douho Nonsesy Yves on keys, André Laourou on trumpet, Assalé Jean Paul on trombone, Ediamed N'cho Achango on sax as well as Borise Konan and Julie Ouedraogo on backing vocals.

On the remaining tracks, Lyricson treats the subjects of love (No One Can featuring Sister Rudo), greed and envy (Betta Way is a fervent plea to “refrain from your wicked ways”), spirituality (Mystically), and encouragement on One Step Away, a sweet acoustic piece – shout-out to Kotokory Jean Marc Mel on percussions and Ouattara Sie Aboubakar on guitar!

All songs were mixed by Jamaican mastermind Gaylard Bravo, who has also provided the Black Man Liberation Dub that closes the album. From Guinea to the world, Lyricson's African Dream, fittingly released on a label called Royal Music, is a wonderful demonstration of how reggae can seamlessly integrate African musical traditions (and vice versa). A sonic celebration of the best of two worlds!

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