Moelogo belongs to a distinguished echelon of non mainstream singers, that are focused on the art of making elite music and aren’t bothered with factors like resonance and commercial success.
It might be a bit farfetched to say Moelogo has a cult following or niche listeners, but there are definitely a handful of listeners—music heads especially that are privy of his reputation and enjoy his music. This writer is part of them and honestly it’s hard not to, if one does get into his music. He possesses an uncanny ability to blur the lines between genres like traditional folk music and R&B, whilst still drawing subtler influences from soulful ballads and even Dancehall.
Asides the sheer range in the sonic dynamics, there is also a lot of intentionality behind every facet of composition from writing to conceptualization and presentation. With 7 EP’s to his name, he has pulled off progressive and coherent storytelling through his body of works, without sacrificing the gratification of the music. His pen-game is also really impressive and word on the streets is that he also ghostwrites for notable Afrobeats superstars.
EP opener, RIDE N SING is an Afropop song with exotic, rhythmic exotic guitar chords that evoke the feels of a sophisticated, tropical scenery of scantily clad women grinding to the music and clinking of wine glasses going round. Joeboy delivers the goodies with a super smooth delivery that’s very impressionable and only fault is that it’s perhaps too short and should have gone on a bit longer to really land in a lasting blow.
On AMEN, Moelogo is talking his shit and propping himself up. He sings, “I’m Adam in Ragnarok, Poisedon couldn’t even see men. May not be your fave, but my shit certy like the Weeknd.” He alludes to the fact that he knows he’s no superstar that’s the fave of millions, but that doesn’t take away from his music in no way whatsoever. The beat is reggae-infused with some very woozy and rumbling synths that reverb for a bouncy feel.
WHAT I LIKE is an Afro-House record with jazz horns and mild shakers. The lyricism here isn’t as intentional as the previous records, but on expansive and immersive production like this—you needn’t do much asides letting the beat breathe. WEEKEND is this writer’s favorite record off the EP because it’s Afro-R&B at its best. Mood music because of the soulful vocals, heartfelt writing and emotive production. Yet it’s also groovy music because of the potency of the bass of the drums and arrangements of the beat.
15TH is the track where Moe he’s at his most vulnerable and also sparsely touches on the demons he’s battled in the last couple of years, highlighting the toll it took on him. He constantly iterates that he’s only human dealing with his own challenges and fighting to keep his head over the water, without losing his own sanity in the process. The up-tempo nature of the production almost distracts you from the gravitas of the topic, but it’s clear when one pays attention to his lyrics.
WHERE I’M FROM is the signature soulful ballad from Moe with some emotive classical guitar chords and soaring piano keys in the backdrop, to words of gratitude and prayers offered to God for being a strong backbone of support. It’s a very cliché sentiment used to close off an album by a Nigerian artiste but the record is so good and it would tug at your heart strings in such a potent way, that you wouldn’t mind the narrative of it.
Point Of View by Moelogo offers a meaningful evolution of his sound. The music is more accessible, unifying crucial elements of his traditional, folk music with more contemporary elements to yield more rounded and balanced results. Some of his precise storytelling might have been watered down, but the music never sounds like it doesn’t have a soul. It’s still unmistakably Moelogo’s.
Final Verdict:
Sonic Cohesion: 1.3/2
Unharried Transitions: 1.3/2
Expansive Production: 1.5/2
Songwriting & Delivery: 1.5/2
Optimal Track Sequencing: 1.5/2
Total: 7.1/10
–Written by T.J. Martins, an avid lover of music.
