Temi Bamgbose
Asa’s message in Lucid is clear. Love, broken heart, desire, intentions, feminism and resilience. Fans of fine music are not unfamiliar with Bukola Ẹlẹmide’s titillating soul/ jazz/ pop/ afro music, so this fourth album isn’t very different. In fact, the striking similarity of the album to her previous works speaks of ingenious consistency.
The 14 tracks in the album released in October 2019 run for 47 minutes. It was released under the Shanachie (U.S.) and Chapter Two Records/Wagram label.
Murder in the USA opens Lucid and sets the tone for an overall sombre theme of the album. In what sounds like a brief moment of madness, the character shot her lover and expresses her regret after being arrested. Somehow the song invokes the memory of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Hey Joe’ but unlike Joe who escaped to Mexico after shooting a lover, Asa’s character surrenders to the police and faces jail. Could this be the jail in her 2007 hit Jailer?
The beginning (track2) is a story of the singer’s character taking the initiative to repair a broken relationship. In simple explicit words, she describes the beginning of the end of many love stories and offers a solution accordingly — go back to the beginning.
Good thing (track 3) and 9 lives (track 12) speak of resilience and rising above adversities, especially those occasioned by abusive relationships. The song calls to mind Asa’s 2011 single, Why can’t we, that was later included in the Beautiful Imperfections album released in October 2010. Like Be my man, from that same 2010 album, Stay tonight (track4), You and me (track7), Until we try (track 11 and my personal favourite) and Don’t let me go (track 13) speaks of a strong woman initiating a relationship and keeping it together. This is impressive because in many cultures, especially in Nigeria, the singer’s home country, it is almost taboo to see ladies making the first move.
Femi mo (track8), and My dear (track 14) are in a class of their own, like Bami dele (2010 Beautiful Imperfection album) and Awe (2007, Asha album). Asa proves herself a master storyteller in this album with ballads, spinning stories spanning all the spectrum of love including sentimental topics like unrequited love.
Except for one or two of the songs in the album, Lucid is not music for the party. It is music for reflection and meditation. If music was a drug, Lucid would be classified under downers as subtly suggested by the album art. If you are depressed and are looking for something to lift your spirit, most of the songs in Lucid are not for you. But, if you are looking for smooth jazz, with beautiful guitar and drums arrangements that you can use to tame a rush of jumpiness, Lucid is your go-to album.
