Wah Wah 45s present the long awaited new album from Afro-dub masters, Soothsayers, entitled Fly Higher. With a history that goes back three decades, having released two classic LPs (Tradition and We Are Many) and numerous EPs and remixes on the imprint, the band deliver possibly their finest body of work to date.
Soothsayers’ twelfth studio album will be released on vinyl only (and via Bandcamp) in September this year – twenty-five years since they unleashed their debut LP, Lost City. The album features the very essence of the band – the vital ingredients that have been part of their sound since the outset, incorporating the diaspora, family and community that they have built along their journey.
Fly Higher blends Afrobeat, soul, jazz and dub grooves and is packed with uplifting, ear-worm melodies delivered via stirring three-part harmonies, horn hooks and mesmerising basslines. The sound is typically organic and warm, and showcases Soothsayers’ original songwriting style, which in turn pays respect to a variety of influences, but avoids cliche and predictability.
The opening, and title track rocks a pumping Afrobeat bounce with growling catchy horns, touches of jazz improvisation, and call & response vocals. Soothsayers’ chorus lines are answered by soaring British Nigerian songstress Lizzy Donsumu and former Fela Kuti keyboardist Dele Sosimi – long time friends and collaborators with the band . Fly Higher is a simple message that reminds us that we can control our own mindset, strive for goodness, be in the moment and fly way above the low level rhetoric that holds back progress.
Love Is Still The Answer explores the fact that although the world feels more divided and chaotic than ever, in the heart of all of us we know that ‘love is still the answer’. It’s a message that is delivered by beautifully warm vocalisations, written and sung by Julia Biel over a deep, bass-heavy Afro-soul groove. It’s a sonically engaging invitation to dance, think and feel.
Meaning infinite in Bengali, Ashim is a deep instrumental track showcasing the band’s superb musicianship at its best – combining influences from jazz with African rhythms and touches of dub production in a slow build that reaches anintense and satisfying climactic chorus.
Don’t Be Silent is a funky Afrobeat driven slab of protest music that reminds us that we have the right to speak up for what we believe in, and to not fall victim to intimidation or ‘cancel culture’. Soothsayers’ group vocal leads the way on this one over a dynamic groove augmented by electronics and crowd voices from the band’s ongoing educational community music project, Youthsayers. Love Will Find a Way features vocalists Maia Avery and Akin Soul, both former members of Youthsayers. Mixed by Sao Paulo based producer Victor Rice, it’s a stirring reggae stepper with a strong, universal message. Maia and Akin’s distinctive voices blend and weave beautifully over a hypnotic groove . One to satisfy your soul!
Roots adds flavours of Jamaican icon Tommy McCook with trumpet and sax interplay alongside feelgood vocal inspirations from Kodjovi Kush, former Soothsayers bassist but evidently, still very much part of the family.
BJP (Big John Price) is another that is a testament to the goodness of community. John kindly opens his doors at The Portico Gallery in South London on a weekly basis to provide a physical base for the Youthsayers project. BJP has a stomping Afro groove with jazz improvisations from Idris Rahman and keyboardist Kishon Khan as well as welcoming a massive horn section and added rhythm section in the shape of personnel from Youthsayers themselves.
A Piece of Gold reminds us that every human has something to offer the world. Finding your passion or calling may not be easy, but there is always a way. The lyrics are based on a Yoruba proverb , “A piece of gold that wants to shine must pass through fire”. Akin Soul delivers the lead vocals supported by Soothsayers harmonies and horns. It’s another feel-good track with positivity at its heart. Music to lift the soul – sunny and optimistic. You need this!
Fly Higher closes with another stepping roots track, Nothing We Could Do. With a reflective Soothsayers vocal, it provides resolution and antidote to regret and self reproach. When things don’t work out, the best thing we can do is move on. Looking forward is the only way – ‘the best is yet to come’.
Reactions & Radio Play
Radio play from Gilles Peterson (Worldwide FM), David Rodigan (BBC Radio 1Xtra), Erica McKoy (Rinse FM), Zakia (BBC Radio 6 Music), Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM), DJ Ritu (Resonance FM),Totally Wired Radio, Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France) and many more.
“Fly Higher drops shortly after genre-crossing fusionists Soothsayers celebrate 25 years together – and what a way to celebrate! The album delivers ten mood-lifting cuts that blur the lines between horn-led Afrobeat, heady dub and jazz – all served up with beautiful vocal melodies and socially conscious lyrics. The band was creating cross-cultural takes on the aforementioned styles long before it was fashionable for UK artists to do so, meaning Fly Higher demonstrates Soothsayers’ contemporary relevance, while also reaching into time-worn musical tradition. The title-track kicks proceedings off with tight funky guitar married to catchy group vocals and punchy brass lines. Love Is Still The Answer offers a message of unity and hope equipped with more beautiful brass work and a dub-esque production. Elsewhere, Ashim is a soulful take on contemporary jazz, while Roots leans into the band’s reggae influences. After a quarter of a century, this pioneering collective has plenty more gas in the tank.” Andrew Taylor-Dawson (Songlines Magazine)
“It’s always a pleasure to hear anything new from SE London collective the Soothsayers, whose heady fusion of Afrobeat, soul, jazz and reggae invariably lifts the spirits, whilst their lyrics make us think. The title track makes for an explosive opener with its chanted chorus, soaring vocals by British Nigerian songstress Lizzy Donsumu, spoken interjections by former Fela Kuti keyboardist Dele Sosimi and a percolating, funky beat that invokes memories of Fela’s Africa 70 at their peak. It’s the sound of the real Afrobeat, and not the dancehall inspired nowadays variety, whilst the message in that song is one of freedom – a theme they return to throughout the album and not least on the heartfelt testimony To Be Free.
The other Afrobeat tracks include a fiery Don’t Be Silent, Love Is Still The Answer with soulful vocals by Julia Biell and the shuffling A Piece Of Gold, sung by Akin Soul and with lyrics based on a Yoruba proverb [“a piece of gold that wants to shine must pass through fire”]. Also, BJP, a testament to “Big” John Price whose Portico Gallery in South London hosts weekly sessions by the Youthsayers; a project founded by the Soothsayers to promote and nurture emerging talent. Akin Soul and Maia Avery, who share vocals on lead single Love Will Find A Way, are both graduates of the Youthsayers. That track has more of a reggae feel just like the closing Nothing We Could Do and Roots, featuring spoken word by former Soothsayers’ bassist Kodjovi Kush and some wonderful horns interplay.
There’s more of the above on Ashim, which means “infinite” in Bengali. It’s the kind of deep, jazz and funk inspired instrumental that’s sure to delight any fan of the UK’s new wave, as well as classic fusion groups from the past like Cymande – i.e., music created by skilled practioners with jazz sensibilities, who know how to weave diverse influences into whatever they’re doing so that it sounded uniquely their own. The Soothsayers embody all of that, in addition to keeping their finger on the pulse. They’re also vastly underrated, and this is their best album yet. ***** ” John Masouri (Echoes Magazine)
“London’s finest.” David Rodigan (BBC Radio 1Xtra, UK)
“Fly Higher has such a great energy to it!” Erica McKoy (Rinse FM / Worldwide FM, UK)
“TOPS.” Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM, UK)
“Lovely afro-dub-jazz-soul from the masters…look forward to hosting them live in Leeds end of October.” DJ Lubi (Totally Wired Radio / The Wardrobe, UK)
“Yes ! Feeling this LP.” DJ Soulist (Souleance, France)
“Gotta good feeling from this album.” Cesare Cera (Bologna Uno, Italy)
“Another great release from Wah Wah 45s.” DJ Kobayashi (Soho Radio / Batov Records, UK)
“Excellent LP!” DJ Angola (Wonderwheel, USA)
“Another solid album from the Soothsayers fusing Afro, dub and soul!” Steve Johns (Solar Radio, UK)
“Belter of an LP – full support! will spin on the radio this week.” Leo Zero (Various, UK)
“Amazing as always!!” DJ Makala (Global Funkers, Spain)
“NICE vibes.” MP Marcus (Choice FM, UK)
“Brilliant, musical bliss!” Nicole Finnerty (Kane FM, UK)
“Fly Higher is the one! Lovely!” Dusty (Jazz & Milk, Germany)
“Love it!” Miia Laine (Radio Helsinki, Finland)
“Ashim in selection this september and more next month! Finally it’s the come back and it’s awesome!” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France)
“A wonderful new album from the mighty Soothsayers! – Full support!!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, UK)
“Nice one!” DJ Junior (Record Breakin, USA)
“Brilliant Work!” Enrique Domenech (CKUT 90.3FM, Canada)
“Afrobeat, dub, soul… perfect spin.” Gerd (Ottic FM, Germany)
“Great album!” Martijn Barkhuis (Jazz de Ville, Netherlands)
“Excellent album.” Rado Tomek (NuSpirit, Bratislava)
“Really nice collection of afro funk!” Raj Selli (Solar Radio, UK)
“Excellent.” Robert Lochmann (Radio X, Germany)
“Great album! Full support on my shows starting this weekend shows.” Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio, Portugal)
“Impressive in ensuring in Afrobeat and reggae, they make a link between Fela and Marley.” Jean-Marc Baehler (Couleur 3, Switzerland)
“Dope new album, happy anniversary Soothsayers!” Ubbo Gronewold (Caress Caress Radio, Germany)
“This album is stellar!!! I have loved the singles leading up to the full release, and I have played them extensively on my KEXP radio shows – especially “Love is Still the Answer.” This album is great, and I cannot wait to play it and play it and play it a million times on my radio shows and in my club sets. Lovely and inspired tunes!! I love this!!” Kid Hops (KEXP, USA)
“One of my favourite bands.” Sista Selecta (Bucketts Radio, Australia)
“Really lovely stuff. Long may they reign!” Steve KIW (1BTN, UK)
“Wicked as always, amazing music.” Amar Kabouche (Fauve Radio, Hong Kong)
“Perfect blend of Afrobeat, Soul, Jazz and dubbed out grooves. Essential stuff!” DJSix (Various, UK)
“Nice to listen to it!” Rino Spadavecchia (Hear Dis, Germany)
“That LP is a great piece.” Laurent (La Grosse Tambouille, France)
“Love the Soothsayers – full support on my tiny desk radio shows.” Lee Bright (Tangential Music, UK)
“Lovely, will support on Loose FM” Cal Gibson (Secret Soul Society, UK)
“Great music!!” Ivan Mera (Higher Club, Spain)
“Brilliant!” Eric Tchaikovsky (Night Light Radio, Ukraine)
“Always a real pleasure to discover a new Soothsayers record.” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“Groove- sounds- truth just WOW! This has everything… the groove, the bass, the message etc… LOVE all of it.” Andre Rheaume (Vancouver, Canada)
“Fire, Sunshine, Joy, Beauty & Grooves.” DJ Mr Lob (Various, Australia)
“Lovely stuff!” Ross Wakefield (Frankson, UK)
“Just simply a wonderful Album from a truly gorgeous band.” Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe, UK)
“The music…the message .. all hit the spot here.” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried, UK)
“Very good. Every track I listened to I thought – that’s my favourite! Consistently high standard.” Nigel Wood (Various, UK)
“I agree, on first listening this album strikes me as possibly the band’s best to date. The expected breadth of variety and styles, slow reggae dancers and uptempo afro rockers are all there and the strength & power of the lyrical force is on max. The ensemble performance speaks of a unit which has played together for years – confident easy grooves dropping under some sparkling vocal performances (viz: Love Will Find A Way). First pick for favourite is the afrobeat-influenced Don’t Be Silent but I know there are rewards to come with this set.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
“The WAH WAH 45s 26th anniversary party has the might Soothsayers with a VINYL release of their 11th album, get in early! We’re long term fans of the label as you can tell from the many reviews on YATM and this is another excellent release. OK, so we’re still waiting for a certain Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s top man, Jazz FM, Soho Radio and many more) who in the past has been playing out the Hectic Extension of the previous singles to actually have an official release of one. And members of Soothsayers have links with the South Coast but even so, this 10 tracks is the band at their Afrobeat/reggae/dub best.” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
