The newest album from Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti, Journey Through Life, finds the 62-year-old examining his past while re-recording some of his older songs and delivering a few new jams with personal lyrics.
Kuti has lived a full life, fighting against political corruption, working with Global Citizen, running The New African Shrine in Lagos with his sister Yeni, and promoting his role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Kuti has never been shy lyrically, following in the footsteps of his legendary father Fela, but he has also never opened to personal topics on record. Journey Through Life finds him slightly dipping his toes in those waters, but he is more comfortable fighting for his people.
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The opening title song mentions living life in the moment and enjoying what you have around you in a fairly clichéd manner, but the excellent spiritual call-and-response backing vocals and hypnotic Afrobeat groove elevate the track. “Work on Myself” is, as the title suggests, another inward-looking song that is short with good wah-wah guitar action. While both efforts are fine, it is the call to arms numbers that drive Kuti to greater heights.
The best of the bunch is “Politics Don Expose Them,” which kicks off with a great groove, featuring blaring sax from Femi and a sweet, swelling sound. This is followed by enjoyable guitar grooves, popping bass, and spotlight-shining lyrics that recall his father’s classic, “Zombie.” The stately sounding brass of “Chop and Run” and “After 24 Years”, which delivers layers of percussion and bright brass over the beats, are also excellent in this ‘fighting against oppression’ political vein. Kuti’s music has accurately been described as “sweet music with a bitter message,” and these are the prime examples on the album.
Kuti is in a reflective mood and re-recorded some older songs for Journey Through Life, not so much updating his Afrobeat sound as slightly augmenting it to varying degrees. “Oga Doctor” uses a motoring, 70’s ’70s-inspired soul groove, and “Think My People Think” drops some gooey bass lines before building higher with swirling horns. Less successful is the re-recording of “Corruption na Stealing,” which isn’t nearly as smooth as the original. On the other hand, “Shotan” improves with more aggressive vibes, featuring pummeling percussion, distortion, and electro keys that buzz winningly.
Some reimagining and some looking back, ‘Journey Through Life’ is a pleasant reflection on where Femi Kuti has been and where that could possibly lead him in the future.
