Search - Geoffrey Oryema :: Spirit

Oryema's best since Beat the Border

Clayton W. Hibbert | Seattle, WA, USA | 04/18/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was a bit wary when I learned that Geoffrey Oryema had left the Real World label, but fortunately he has lost nothing in the transition.This disc is a pleasure to listen to -- more polished than 1997's "Night to Night", if not as uniquely memorable as 1993's "Beat the Border" -- "Spirit" is perhaps the most accessible of Oryema's music to date. It's one of those albums that your friends will borrow and then buy for themselves.From the almost anthemic-sounding tribute to his late brother ("Omera John") to the wryly-named and beautiful "No Ballads Ballad" to his own take on the Talking Head's "Listening Wind", Oryema has created an album of varied and eclectic textures. He further refines his unique style, yet remains comfortably familiar to a growing base of fans.Recommended.(Hopefully this album will make its way to the United States, saving U.S. Oryema fans the nuisance of ordering this as a French import.)"

What "World" Music Should Be.

Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 05/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been listening to Geoffrey Oryema since 1996. I have all four of his cds. His new release "Spirit" is a remarkable blend of Ugandan, French, and western sounds. With the help of Rupert Hine on production, Oryema seems to have created his most polished work to date. Singing about what he knows and what is dearest to him, Oryema continues to infuse his music with passion and thoughtfulness. He also perfectly adapts a Talking Heads classic, "Listening Wind", and makes it his own. It almost seems as if he wrote the song and not David Byrne. This is the type of cd that gets better with each listen, and I'd recommend it to Oryema fans and non-fans. Hopefully, like the review before me said, this album will be released in America instead of remaining an import. Also, I have to thank Peter Gabriel for finding Oryema and signing him to his Real World record label. Without Peter Gabriel, and his dedication to world music, I might not have had the privelege of hearing Geoffrey's music."