Album Review Ibeyi - Ash

After signing to XL in 2013, Ibeyi garnered significant interest through a fusion of jazz, soul and R&B. Eclectic in sound, the duo were a difficult group to pin down. And once again it’s the vocal performances of sibling duo Lisa-Kainde and Naomi take centre stage on ‘Ash’. The modern hip hop tones of ‘Away Away’ compliment the dreamy harmonies nicely, while the electronic beat of ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ is a vibrant addition to the record. Penultimate closer ‘Numb’ is another highlight. Epic in scope, the track ebbs and flows before culminating in an outstanding vocal finale. The record then comes to a grandiose close with ‘Ash’ – a gripping, experimental cut which sees the duo declare “We are ashes” over a soothing electronic beat. Ibeyi’s second effort feels very much like an upgrade on their debut - a sprawling, diverse record without so much as a dull moment. If you missed the band first time around, now is the time to make the leap.