You have to admire someone who refuses to do what’s expected of him and instead follows his own path though life. It would have been very easy for Ola to follow the career path of his family of lawyers or to become a singer of pop/soul sensibilities. Instead, he did neither. Supported by his loyal wife, Ola sent off on his own path and after a long and hard struggle it seems that at last he might just be beginning to see some benefits.
On top of new gigs in the US and Europe, he has just released his 6th album, and it is a rare gem: full of intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics, strong melodies and a voice of such depth and range that it all leaves an imprint on one’s soul. As with most of Ola’s albums there is nothing that is easily accessible on first hearing. However, like a good wine that gets better with every taste, the same could be said of Ola’s music. Savour the intelligence of the title track with it’s lyrics regarding the corruption of power or the solo build of ‘True Friends’ towards a powerful climax. The astuteness of ‘Who are You’ is a result of Ola’s brush with UK customs and ‘Miracle Obstacle’ a result of every man’s frustration — just ask the late Poet Laureate,Sir John Betjamin! All mature and complex songs sung by a man who has something to say and believes that he should.
This is a contender for one of the albums of the year. It’s that strong! Likened by a number of people to Donny Hathaway is indeed some compliment, but Ola is very much his own man- devoured, or not!!.
James "JL" Lewis