Ghostpoet – Some Say I So I Say Light

Ghostpoet’s debut album Peanut Butter Blues & Meloncholy Jam was critically acclaimed and was nominated for the hotly contested 2011 Mercury Music Prize – a momentous achievement for a rapper releasing his first record.

However, Ghostpoet (Obaro Ejimiwe) doesn’t consider himself a rapper but rather a poet, and it’s true to say his music sits easier in the alternative scene. His subject matter usually touches on the mundanity of everyday life, setting him apart from the flashy bravado of the hip-hop scene. The artist’s liking for long-winded titles is also apparent as he releases his second LP Some Say I So I Say Light.

The album begins with Cold Win and an immediately obvious intent to immerse itself into melancholic electronic sounds. Them Waters follows suit – periodic and moodier than an oldskool raver on a comedown. The unease of cold modulated samples and effects puts the listener in a dark and introspective place, yet it could be a club favourite. There is no escaping the chilly nature of the music and it successfully mirrors the reality of mid-winter London.

The collaborations on his sophomore record are noticeable, setting it apart from the debut. The bleak and unerring Dial Tones includes a breathy chorus from Lucy Rose as both speak of their frustration with unanswered phone calls. Meltdown has a poignant message, emphasised by Woodpecker Wooliams’s vocal, and works well as a single. Dave Okume adds his magic on Sloth Trot and 12 Deaf, while Gwilym Gold contributes on the melting tones of Dorsal Morsel.

The first release from the album was MSI MusmiD, in which Ghostpoet spits about a dream he had where dim sum and noodles squabbled like life-long friends. It is a strange reason to write a song but the lyrics work well over the linear and repetitive instrumental.

Some Say I So I Say Light is a clear window into the artist’s state of mind and his attitude towards the realities of life and the music industry. Ejimiwe’s almost spoken-word mumbled style doesn’t bother with the trappings of superstardom, unlike most rappers. The intention is to steer clear of that notion, delving into the alternative valley of experimental electronica, rather than supporting a stereotype. This album is deeper than it looks and sounds greater in solitary confinement with a pair of headphones.

Verdict: ★★★★★

Samuel Mensah

Some Say So I Say Light was released on 6^th May 2013.

Watch the video for Meltdown here: