Seasonal transitions invite a sense of new energy, new priorities, new perspectives, but more so, personal reflections. With the passing months, there is a natural tendency to see time as a merit for growth and accomplishment, and as a medium for reminiscing about old connections. One of the leading figures in the UK Afro/R&B music scene, Odeal uses the temperature drop to adjust to moodier melodies on his new EP, “The Fall That Saved Us,” maintaining his genius release pattern, a follow-up to his scorching, “The Summer That Saved Me.”
Interchanging the heated, sultry celebration of freedom and general life’s joys, Odeal dropped, “The Summer That Saved Me,” just before his Wireless performance, the night of music in London. With “The Fall That Saved Us,” Odeal creates a more intimate narrative across the 9-track extended tracklist. Born in Germany and raised across Nigeria, Spain, and the UK, Odeal never disappoints with showcasing his multicultural upbringing and this new project is no different.
Opening with “Reason,” the soft acoustic guitar flickers alongside Odeal’s inviting smooth vocals, reaffirming Autumnal blues and longing. “There is a reason why I wait, because my heart is still with you,” he sings with ache. Picking up the pace, “Molotov” takes off the rose-colored glasses, as Odeal questions the trust and strength of the connection. “Blur” finds Odeal on the verge of crashing out, resisting crossing the lines, battling the temptation of the familiar, which is cut too short for my liking.
“Addicted” and “Pretty Girls” are both an instant dose of the nostalgic 2000s R&B we yearn to hear in the club. Switching from his signature soul productions to a piano laced with bass, “Wicked” slows it down with contemplations of holding on versus accepting the reality of an end. Tapping into his spiritual side, “Children of Yeshua” may serve as an emotional peak of the project, as Odeal explores themes of grounding and stillness.
The closing track and the one of the two collaborations on the EP, “Nights In The Sun,” offers a sought-after blend of Odeal and Wizkid‘s music spells destined for the embrace of love that’s safe; an optimistic end to a narrative that’s aware of the connection’s fragility, and ache, which Odeal turns into a relatable collective experience stemmed from his personal remarks.
Similarly, across the rest of his discography, the British-Nigerian Odeal continues to deliver a reliable level of musicality, with clear mood and season versatility. “The Fall That Saved Us” is an excellent dose of his signature R&B to keep us going for the rest of the year.
Follow Odeal On Instagram
Words: Karolina Kramplova
Photographer: Jack McKain