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26.05.2015 New Release

Obiba Sly Collins returns with Voice of Reason

By Mustapha A Inusah
Obiba Sly Collins returns with Voice of Reason
26.05.2015 LISTEN

THE last time Obiba Sly Collins dropped an album was about three years ago and it was a patriotism album which called for a violence-free election. He dropped an album in 2008 and later followed it up with a single Peace Song in 2012. This year he has returned with an 11-track CD titled Voice of Reason. Though no one can say this is the last CD compilation he is releasing, this work showcases another side of the multi-instrumentalist who has spent much of his time preaching peace and unity through music.

He has four albums to his credit. According to the singer, the motivation for Voice of Reason is very simple. “I want the youth to realize that this is their time and they need to be focused in everything they do. They should eschew the negative idea of waiting on politicians to dictate the pace. Rather, they should realize that the future is theirs so they should do the right thing, forget the politicians and chart a course that will lead to the betterment of the country,” he said. As far as he is concerned, the CD is speaking to this generation which he advises should not follow the negative politics of insults which has become the order of the day.

“If the leaders of today are making mistakes we have to put them in prayers, not insults. Respecting our leaders and elders is a blessing and the Holy Book says so. Therefore, they should not follow their example, but do the right thing because the future belongs to them,” he further advised. This 11-tracker is a throwback to the days of good highlife music but rendered in a modern vein – no programmed and computerized drums and keyboards but live guitars, saxophone, violins and manual drums.

According to him, the production decision of using the traditional method is to show the new generation of musicians that it is still possible to play good music without the embellishments of the modern, overused and increasingly monotonous, repetitive technology. It must be said that in this, Collins has excelled by avoiding these. Outside the traditional highlife rhythms, Collins added some innovations as he confidently rendered the songs in English, Twi, Ewe and even Yoruba where the gospel track Dominion featuring Ngozi Orji (an actress and wife of famous actor Zack Orji) has become a must-play on early morning Christian radio programmes.

Smile is a track for the Western world. It is a complete sentimental jazz piece featuring Lorlor on vocals. Collins says that playing the gospel is just to show his appreciation for God and what He has done in his life. This song rendered in English, Twi and Yoruba is gradually climbing the musical charts, crossing over from gospel into the main musical chart and receiving heavy airplay even beyond the borders of Ghana.

Other tracks on the CD are Ghana Oman, featuring Sherifat Gunu on vocals, which is a continuation of the patriotic themes that have always been Obiba Sly Collins’ musical trade mark. Abrabo, Owuo is a song that traverses the entire musical genre of Ghana including the northern parts of the country. Others are Tie, Say You Do, Where Is the Love? Oman, Me Do Wiase, Only Jesus Can Save.

Produced by Josiah Morgan, the executive producer is Obiba Sly Collins with support from Obiba Foundation and Nii Cudjoe and Associates. This CD is bound to be a benchmark for any musician who intends to release a highlife compilation for years to come and it is being marketed and distributed nationwide by Precise Music.

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