An Ancient Echo, the amazing Nigerian recording artist, takes things down on this thriller “Ekpere,” a prayer set wild over absolutely nothing.
Ekpere is just prayer, pure and simple. No need for dressing up, no need for a smart approach when the whole idea is somebody reaching out. The title gives it away before a single note is played; it’s heading right there.
There is hardly any instrumental, just a low ambient hum, and perhaps one sustained note somewhere down there. It feels less like a rhythm, more like a held breath. Whatever constitutes as production here is entirely out of the way.
Vocals are very up in the face, almost whispered at places, as if this was not meant for anybody else to hear. Not practicing devotion, but being devotion. That counts, and you can sense it in the delivery, how unguarded it is.
Words are simple, even repeated, as actual prayer often is. Not for the sake of poetry. Just asking, over and over, in slightly different ways. Not built to anything. Doesn’t have to be.
“Ekpere” is not a song you queue between lively songs. It has to be quiet around to really hit. This one, An Ancient Echo, was obviously not in pursuit of streams.
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