Music Review: Steady rocking on the Midnight Train with Sauti Sol

Midnight Train album cover. (L-R) Sauti Sol members; Bien Aime Baraza, Willis Austin Chimano, Delvin Mudigi and Polycarp ‘Fancy Fingers’ Otieno.

If there is one thing you can give Sauti Sol, even if you are a hater confused fan, is consistency. The group, which has stuck together since their inception as a band in 2005, has consistently delivered well written, well arranged, aurally pleasing albums. Their latest offering is no different in terms of quality, songwriting and style. Midnight Train is their fifth and latest album with the only difference being they are now signed to Universal Records.

On this album, the band has managed to keep their signature touches, strong vocals, harmonies and acoustic blends that either fill you with longing or getting you dancing. The content is differs from the hopeful first album Mwanzo which had themes of new love with songs like Lazizi and Mama Papa, muenjoyo (enjoyment) of life as a young guy in Nairobi. Midnight Train packs in a bit more lived experience with Sauti Sol singing about heartbreak, unrequited love (Hi Suzie!), and insecurity. The language of the  album demonstrates Sauti Sol ‘s homegrown appeal without letting you forget that they all passed their KCSE Kiswahili papers.

Do what makes you happy

A feel good intro that feels like a mantra — life is really too short to worry about what other’s think — opens up the listening experience before launching you onto the first track. With Midnight Train, the band welcomes you to join them on their musical journey and you can’t help but buckle up with this up tempo song. The second track and single Insecure, talks about insecurities in relationships, how people hide their fears and true selves in order to be liked, accepted or appear unfazed. The video is a sight for sore eyes.

Feel My Love is a song that you’ll find yourself humming to absent-mindedly. A relaxing mid tempo song about the ups and downs of relationships showcases just a bit of Chimano’s baritone because his vocal range is like the ocean, endless. Brighter Days is definitely the album’s most international sounding song complete with a South African choir, the kind that you would imagine being sung at Cape Town Jazz Fest or Live Aid. I wonder if the guys knew a pandemic was on the way when they penned it?

Suzanna! The bonafide pan-african hit, the one you knew would be playing everywhere. And the video, shot in Lagos, Nigeria is perfection. PolyCarp’s fancy fingers get to shine in this song which developed a life of its own and inspired some angry tweets (Kaende hivo Suzie!). Some have likened it to Tabu Ley’s Maze which features a slightly similar guitar tune in the breakdown. I feel this is in keeping with Midnight Train’s whole vibe, this album feels like a well-timed salute to the African greats who came before them.

My Everything is Sauti Sol’s dream collab’ as evidenced on both theirs and India Arie’s Instagram pages. India Arie’s instantly recognisable contralto blends effortlessly with the band’s harmonies. The vibe is very Afro-latin in terms of guitar and beats, and just yummy to the ears. I can hear this playing in a backyard braai once it is safe to go outside again. Wake Up featuring reggae artiste Mortimer, is a head bobbing mid-tempo song  with a chorus that has a soul train vibe.

Set Me Free

And now for the songs I found myself replaying as I sampled the album..

Nenda Lote reminded me of old school Kenyan songs by musicians like Fadhili Williams and the band Les Wanyika. It is a beautiful song told from the perspective of a man whose woman has up and left him, I don’t know what he did…Sauti Sol do tell us. You can’t help but feel his pain as Bien sings: “na madeni zangu ukazitangaza zote mtanda-oni” (and you broadcasted all my debts to the press). The breakdown also reminded me of Eric Wainaina’s coat grabbing dance breaks and made me wonder why they have never collaborated. Or maybe they have, let me know in the comments below.

Sober, a beautifully written song about alcoholism and its devastating effects. Not the most popular subject but a necessary one for a generation that grew up watching the celebration of ‘Mbili Mbili kama Kawaida‘, switch to condemnation with Alcoblow and Mututho laws. Sauti Sol, I see what you did there with the ‘Niko Maji’ nod to Nonini’s Keroro in the chorus.

Rhumba Japani, another one from Sauti Sol’s bag of tricks, the more you listen to it, the more it surprises you. The appreciation of what is being said without being said, the mastery of blending rhumba, sheng and trap into… rhumba trap? Skrrr! The amazing vocals of Xenia adding some sauce, the Nairobi Horns Project…yasss! The reminder that dholuo is such a beautiful language…I can go on and on. Classic.

Disco Matanga, the grand finale. While there will be no ‘disco matangas’* in this pandemic, I love how the band leaves you on a high note with this tune. Also the shock of hearing Bien come in with some strong Isukha on the first verse, Sho’s energy and Black Motion’s Kwaito house beats make this one the main choice for serious mkatiko.

When that long awaited future Sauti Sol Midnight Train tour happens, it will be worth the wait. This album makes time spent in quarantine easier and we can only pay them back by showing up and showing out. Verdict: A solid album. What was your favourite song?

*Disco matanga: Music and dance that happen after funerals in some parts of Western Kenya

Words: Naliaka Wafula

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6 Comments

  1. July 24, 2020 / 8:08 pm

    this is a beautiful review, i loved all the jams in that album… song to song… Keep writing.

    • July 24, 2020 / 10:53 pm

      Thank you for visiting Michael, it really is an amazing album, well worth the listen and replay!

  2. Kalki
    July 25, 2020 / 7:23 am

    Such a great review. As an avid listener of the album, you provided nuance around the songs. Nenda lote and Rhumba Japani are on rotation!

    • July 26, 2020 / 8:52 pm

      As it should be, such great music and arrangement! We stan! Thank you for reading 🙂

  3. L
    July 26, 2020 / 6:50 pm

    What a dope review!

    • July 26, 2020 / 8:51 pm

      Thank you, it is a truly dope album.