Another major UK music information brand, Straightnochaser, has recently reviewed the Keji Album. Veteran Paul Bradshaw (Straightnochaser) made this conclusion about Keji Hamilton, the Exousia Band and the 'Keji' album:

"His keyboard solos are out there propelled along by spring loaded drums, great horn parts and those insistent and compelling female vocals. 'Keji' is part of continuum, a re-affirmation of pure musical power and proof that Afrobeat no go die!"

Here is the full text of this most recent review by Straightnochaser:

Keji - Keji Hamilton (Exousia)

If you're a devotee of the Fela Anikulapo Kuti school of Afrobeat then you will be familiar with the keyboard sound of Keji Hamilton. Dig out a copy of the blistering 'Just Like That' or 'Beasts Of No Nation' or 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense' and tune in. After the mighty Fela passed away, Seun and Femi Kuti, along with master drummer Tony Allen, kept the kept the flame of afrobeat burning, but Keji slipped into the nether world of street crime and drug addiction. However, after a thirteen year absence the man is back and clean. In fact, he is now the pastor of his church in the Lagos and devotes much of his time to working with addicts. Thankfully, through the efforts of his executive producer, Charles Exousia, Keji has been cajoled back into the studio and the result is a six track gem, recorded in Lagos with that classic analog sound. A true multi instrumentalist Keji has a genuine grip on his arrangements and, as with his mentor, the songs deal with the brutal impact of life in modern day Nigeria. Sure enough he pays tribute to his saviour on 'Forever Live Jesus' but it's on the slow burning groove of 'Innocent Blood' that this 13 piece band truly ignites. His keyboard solos are out there propelled along by spring loaded drums, great horn parts and those insistent and compelling female vocals. 'Keji' is part of continuum, a re-affirmation of pure musical power and proof that afrobeat no go die! (Paul Bradshaw)

LINKS:

http://exousia.ithinkmusic.com/my-store/releases.php?page=2253

http://www.myspace.com/kejihamilton  

 Buy the album and make your own conclusions!

Mojo have reviewed the KEJI album in the current (June) edition of their magazine (Page 103).

A summary of their verdict: "This is Afrobeat much as the man himself (Fela) played it in the latter years of his career….The band is well drilled, the horns and backing vocals wonderful…..!"

The full Verdict:

"Vintage Afrobeat from the man who used to open shows for the main man.

A mainstay (on guitar and keyboards) of Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 in the 1980s, Keji Hamilton can't be accused of falling too far from the tree musically in the decade since his employer's death. This is Afrobeat much as the man himself played it in the latter years of his career, though it lacks the grit and fury that made Kuti such an important musician in the 1970s. It would be difficult to imagine the Africa 70 recording a tune called Forever Live Jesus (Hamilton is now a pastor in Lagos), for example, although Bambiala (Beggars) and the anti-consumerism Designers would no doubt have been given an uproarious treatment. The band is well drilled, the horns and backing vocals wonderful, but there's never the sense that everything is teetering on the verge of collapse. Which might be why Kuti had him around so long." (Reviewer: David Hutcheon)    

The album was given a 3 Star review rating; same as the Dolly Parton album!

You can buy the Keji album from major online stores. Ithinkmusic and Soundclick have recently stocked it.

You may meet the artist, sample tracks and also buy the album from:

http://www.myspace.com/kejihamilton (simply click on the 'Buy Now' button)

Enjoy!