Every now and then, an artist comes along who confuses those music critics and fans that like to put music into certain boxes or genres. Ghospoet is undoubtable one of those people. Singer/songwriter? Rapper? Poet? Yeah, I guess you could say he falls into all of the above. There are elements of hip-hop, but with a more organic sound. Instead of heavy processed beats there is a live band, with real drums and guitars. Not things you would usually relate with more conventional hip-hop albums. ‘Shedding skin’ is the third album from Coventry born Obaro Ejimiwe, under his stage moniker Ghostpoet. Boxes aside, the album is made up of ten perfectly chilled tracks; never once having to raise his voice to make his point.
The album is a shift from his previous efforts. It is a more alternative sound, but still in keeping with his usual laid-back vocal style. Still nothing here would sound out of place at your local poetry or spoken word night. It all kicks off with leading single, ‘Off Peak Dreams’ which really gives you a flavour of what the album is about from the offset.
There are several collaborations on here. Whilst often using so many guest stars can be used as a crutch to support an album, on here they are subtle and add a certain something. The guest vocals act as a support, rather than to drown the main vocal out. No more so than on ‘Be Right Back, Moving House’. Guest vocalist duties go to Maximo Park’s frontman Paul Smith. In no way does the track draw influence from geordie band. Instead, Smith’s vocals slip seamlessly into the background on this melancholy track.
British singer/songwriter Nadine Shah features on standout track ‘That Ring Down The Drain Kind Of Feeling’ (one of the two tracks on the album she is on). It adopts a sound of nineties trip-hop legends Portishead and Tricky.
‘Shedding Skin’ is without doubt a step in the right direction for an artist trying and succeeding to stay relevant. No doubt, he will pick up a fair few new fans too with this album.
