Doko Mien
by Ibibio Sound Machine
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Mar 22, 2019
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. The Wire
    Apr 3, 2019
    60
    With moderately different production, a lot of this would probably sound significantly tougher, but one gets the sense that studio slickness has rendered it a little toothless, blunting what could be a much sharper edge. [Apr 2019, p.68]
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  2. DIY Magazine
    Mar 22, 2019
    60
    ISM have stepped away from the traditional Ibibio folk tales that formed the lyrics for much of their debut album, instead relying more on English lyrics and universal themes. Only ‘She Work Very Hard’ displays the kind of storytelling that made those songs so intriguing, and it’s here where the boundaries between tradition and future are most blurred.
  3. Mojo
    Mar 20, 2019
    60
    Building on the fresh inventiveness of 2017's Uyai, this new album cheerfully chops up and reassembles genres in a way that is seriously funky. [May 2019, p.89]
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  5. The 405
    Mar 28, 2019
    55
    Doko Mien indeed falls short of the bands body of work but that doesn’t mean that every song on its own has something to offer. For the most part the group is still never derivative as their own unique spin is still apparent on every track. For the most part it is just too subtle to be noticed.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Shared Album of 2019

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User Score
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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Lajaleaa
    Oct 24, 2019
    8
    ( 87/100 )

    Eno Williams y su banda tienen la intención de globalizar el lenguaje de la música. La música es un lenguaje universal pero el    ( 87/100 )

    Eno Williams y su banda tienen la intención de globalizar el lenguaje de la música. La música es un lenguaje universal pero el idioma con el que se expresa pueda generar un alcance diverso e importante, por eso Eno prioriza y canta las letras en Ibibio, una de las le lenguas regionales de Nigeria. No solo esa intención es bien recibida y apreciada, sino el concepto musical con el que deciden presentarse: La banda juega con elementos digitales y electrónicos, e integran instrumentos acústicos para darle una dirección orgánica a su música, como por ejemplo el uso de trompetas, instrumentos de cuerda y el juego vocal que la gran Eno logra entre canción y canción es muy divertido de escuchar (escúchese "Tell Me (Doko Mien)"). Me agradó mucho que la banda explora varios moods durante su disco, y aunque tiene canciónes muy Up-Beat, también logra un Indie Rock algo triste y melancólico que también raya de forma muy agradable la linea del Psychedelic Rock. Hay detalles muy interesantes en su música que decoran con personalidad y estilo cada track y aunque no haya una narrativa lineal, el álbum completo demuestra que la banda domina varias emociones y géneros musicales, así mismo se preocupa por mantener una energía que se siente cultural, tropical y colorida. Hay un cóctel de vida y energía en la mesa de Ibibio Sound Machine muy simpática de escuchar y la simple intención de promover un idioma regional a través de una herramienta tan poderosa como la música le da méritos a la banda; además su proceso es suficientemente autentico que es muy fácil de disfrutar.
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    Eno Williams and her band have the intention of globalizing the language of music. But even though the music is a universal language, the tongue with which is expressed can create a diverse and important reach. That's why Eno prioritizes and sing the lyrics in Ibibio, one of the local languages of Nigeria. That's not the only intention that's well-received and appreciated, but the musical concept with which they decide to present themselves too: The band plays with digital and electronic elements and integrates acoustic instruments to give an organic direction to their music, like for example the use of trumpets, string instruments and Enos's vocal game that makes between songs is very entertaining to hear (shout out to "Tell Me (Doko Mien)"). I liked a lot that the band explores several moods in their album and, even though it has very upbeat songs, they also manage to play some sad and melancholic Indie Rock; likewise, they scratch the line of Psychedelic Rock in a very pleasant way. There are very interesting details in their music that embellishes each track with personality and style, and even though there's not a linear narrative in the album, all of it proves that the band masters several emotions and music genres, plus it worries of having energy that feels cultural, tropical and colorful. There's a cocktail of life and energy in the table of Ibibio Sound Machine that is very friendly to hear and the simple intention of promoting a regional language through a powerful tool as music makes of them a band with a lot of merits; also their process is authentic enough to be very easy to enjoy.    … Full Review »
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