''Uyai'' is the second studio album by

Ibibio Sound Machine Ibibio Sound Machine is an English electronic afro-funk band from London. Formed in 2013, the band currently consists of vocalist Eno Williams, guitarist Alfred Kari Bannerman, percussionist Afla Sackey, drummer Joseph Amoako, bassist Philip PK ...

, released on March 3, 2017. It is the first album released by

Merge Records Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as an outlet for music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expand ...

since joining the label in 2016.

Reception

''Uyai'' was well-received by contemporary

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upon its initial release. At

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, which assigns a

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rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an

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score of 84, based on 12 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Reviewing the album for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

, critic Paul Thompson wrote that "With this release, the eight-member group continues its blend of West African rhythms, disco, funk, and electro, adding a bit more post-punk and new wave this time around. Dynamic frontwoman Eno Williams is still the star of the show, and while many of her lyrics (sung in Ibibio and English) are still based on Nigerian folktales, this album is more socially conscious, reflecting on recent events and the general state of the world."

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the album's

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page *Eno Williams – Vocals *Alfred Kari Bannerman – Guitar *Anselmo Netto – Percussion *Jose Joyette – Drums *John McKenzie – Bass *Tony Hayden – Trombone, Synthesizer, Additional Production *Scott Baylis – Trumpet, Synthesizer *Max Grunhard – Alto & Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer, Production, Engineer on all tracks except 'Trance Dance', Mixing Additional musicians *Derrick McIntyre – Bass on ‘Give Me a Reason’ *CH Straatman – Bass on ‘Quiet’ *Emmanuel Rentzos – Keyboard on ‘Guide You’ and ‘Pot Is On Fire’ *Dan Leavers – Additional Production, Mixing, Additional Keyboard on ‘Give Me a Reason’, ‘Pot Is On Fire’ and ‘Joy’ * Kristian Craig Robinson– Additional Production, Mixing, Mbira, Flute and Synthesizer on ‘One That Lights Up’ *Affiong David Ekwere – Backing Vocals and Spoken Part on ‘The Chant’, Backing Vocals on ‘Guide You’ *Marilyn David Huck – Backing Vocals on ‘The Chant’ and ‘Guide You’ *Jaelee Small – Backing Vocals on ‘The Chant’ and ‘Pot Is On Fire’ * Beth Mburu-Bowie – Backing Vocals on ‘The Chant’ and ‘Pot Is On Fire’ Additional technical * Benedic Lamdin – Engineer on 'Trance Dance' *Guy Davie – Mastering *Vanessa DeJongh – Design *Daniel Murphy – Design *Dan Wilton – photography

References

{{Authority control 2017 albums Merge Records albums