₦airaland Forum

ALBUM: TABULA RASA
ARTISTE: BRYMO
Tabula Rasa is a Latin term which means “Clean
Slate”, a metaphoric phrase for a fresh start, and
Brymo has desperately been in need of a fresh start
following the recent troubles his career has faced.
After the release of his last album, Merchant,
Dealers and Slaves, the court injunctions stopping
the sales of the album affected the circulation of the
album, and made Brymo take a forced Hiatus from
the scene. However, Brymo announced this new
album with the single “ Fe Mi” released in September
2014. Brymo presents his fourth studio album, a gift
to all lovers of good music.
Tabula Rasa is an 11-track masterpiece of auditory
art, a delight to people who value and appreciate
good music, with deep meaning, and messages. The
well produced album is a fine combination of
premium instrumentals, stellar lyricism, with mixing
and mastering that is nothing short of world class.

Brymo begins this amazing album with “Back to
love” as he yearns for the simple things of life, a
pretty good way to start an album, as he sings about
losing some things close to him, and he wants to go
back to those things he has lost. Brymo sings about
the good old days, about going back to the simple
things, about going back to love. The theme of love
continues on “ Fe Mi”, as Brymo sings about a girl he
is in love with, as he recounts his experiences with
her, explaining how the girl treats him nice, in the
first verse, then bridges the verses with a chorus
asking the lady to marry him, and in the second
verse, he tells the girl what he will do for her after
they get married, all he asks the girl to do is say yes,
and marry him. Brymo channels Fela on “Preek No
Get Shoulder” and indeed traces of Fela are evident
all over the album in terms of inspiration for the
songs. On this song, Brymo is talking to the youth
who has come of age. Brymo advises the youth to
make his or her choices carefully, as whatever he or
she does will affect the way their lives turn out.
Brymo flaunts his writing skills on “ Dear Child”, and
it’s a song that will have you nodding your head,
ignoring the explicit content. Brymo pens a befitting
tribute to his grandmother, relating the experiences
he shared, and the valuable lessons he learnt from
her while she was alive. This is one of the most
beautiful songs on the album, and a direct opposite
to the “Grandpa” track on MDS. This is a song you
can replay a thousand times and Brymo’s
presentation and delivery on this track is near
flawless, contender for the best song of the album.
On “ Je Le O Sin Mi” Brymo reminisces about his
childhood, and the overall idea of this song is the
appreciation for the child. Brymo sings about the
influence of the parents on a child: Teaching of
morals, provision for them, and most importantly,
the importance of sending the child to school, which
explains the title of the song. Another flawlessly
written track by Brymo. In “Never Look back“,
Brymo sings for the young and restless youth, and
the spirit of never looking back. Brymo tries to
motivate the listener never to look back despite what
he or she faces in life. Brymo displays his stellar
writing skills again on this track, although the song
would have been better if the hook wasn’t a one-
word hook. Alone is a spoken word appearance by
Sammy Sage Hassan. Over a jazz undertone, Sage
does what he does best as he takes us on a spoken
word journey of beautiful poetry, as he makes us
explore his loneliness, after heartbreak. He is alone
after the one he loved left him. A wonderfully crafted
piece of poetry from one of Nigeria’s Pioneer of
Spoken word. On “Jungle fever“, Brymo drops a
song for the masses, singing about what the average
Nigerian is passing through. Brymo also sings about
segregation, corruption, bribery and other problems
that plague our country. This song is faster in tempo
than any other song on the album, and its difference
is shown in the electric guitar undertone. 1 pound is
almost alike in concept to Jungle Fever, but the
instrumental this time around is different, and
Brymo does a good job of making the listener relate
to what he writes down, with his wonderful delivery
and amazing voice. Singing to his lover on
“ Nothing’s Ever Promised tomorrow”, Brymo
professes his love for her, promising her nothing
will change between them if they both stay true to
each other. As Brymo brings the album to a slow
end on a love letter to a girl, one wonders who this
new girl in Brymo’s life could be, because he’s
seriously in love with her. Brymo re-professes his
love to her, telling her that no matter what they go
through, his love will remain strong for her. This is
the best love song on the album, and the lyrics will
definitely melt any girl’s heart.
The Album, like I said is a genuine gift to all lovers of
good music, and a way to show that good music can
still come out of Nigeria. If you were looking for a
dance track, or the new shoki remix, you looked in
the wrong place. After listening to this album, I have
only one wish: Asa and Brymo should collaborate on
a song please, as after Asa’s album; the next album
that can come close to it in terms of the quality of
good music is this album. This album is a classic,
and with tracks that will get across to the listener.
Even if you don’t understand Yoruba, you should
look for someone that does to interpret for you, so
you can grasp the true meanings of the songs
rendered in Yoruba. Brymo, well done!
ALBUM RATING: 9/10
SOURCE: jaguda.com/2014/11/05/album-review-brymo-tabula-rasa/

good music + good vibe = good life i.e brymo #bless

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infobiz9ja:
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U don join them? SBN!

tapingil:
U don join them? SBN!

Just in case it gets to fp I was here.

9 5/10

Really this is an Amazining Album.. Jus don't know why its not gettin enough media hype