With Time, Kenyan outfit H_art the Band marks a decade of musicmaking with a return to their acoustic roots. Like the cover art by Ambrose Gicharu, their third album depicts different life phases and stages of love. Emotively threading Swahili spoken word and lyrics between melodic guitars, the trio conceptually uses a turning clock as a metaphor. Opener “Time” expresses the cyclical nature of life and lays a foundation for the exploration of various seasons. With their relatable tales and organic storytelling, the band captures the sparkle of romance on the adoring “Habibty”, heartfelt devotion on “Mada Dada” and the longing for love lost on “Waenda”. While “Karma” cheekily meditates on fate and “W.Y.L.M” grapples with materialism, the addressing of such themes culminates in the broader social commentary of the Eric Wainaina-assisted “Mbio”. A sense of invigoration accompanies closer “Never Seen”, with its prayerful strums acting as a reminder that all cycles restart.
- 2022
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- Bensoul
- King Kaka
- Khaligraph Jones