Boarding into the world of Western classical music, Tony Njoku, a British-Nigerian artist, breaks away from the norm. This historically elite genre, usually filled with highly-trained musicians, isn’t typically associated with artists of Nigerian roots. However, there’s something special about blending these styles, especially when you mix in the natural charm of Nigerian idioms. Inspired by this idea, Njoku has created All Our Knives Are Always Sharp, an album that reflects this unique fusion.
In the opening track “Weapon”, Njoku’s story takes off intriguingly with him weaponizing himself, his spirit and his music. The track builds up to a strong finish with rich, cinematic sounds that pull you in. What makes it special is the surprise at the end, where a man speaks in tongues as the song wraps up – a unique mix you don’t hear every day.
On “Catatonia”, Tony teams up with James Massiah, keeping that lonely, echoing voice style. Just when the song hits its peak, Massiah’s gripping rap flow kicks in, calling out the “technocratic homogenization of culture”. His powerful words bring an edge to the track, saving it from being just another average tune.
Moving forward, “Spirals” brings us a calm, zig-zagging string melody, while Tony’s deep, inspiring voice carries the tune. “Eternity” offers up a mix of layered vocoders, endless harmonies, all coming together in a satisfying blend. In “The Slipstream”, Ghostpoet joins in, adding a psychedelic feel as they ponder fate and personal choice. The title track, “All Our Knives Are Always Sharp”, features Coby Sey and feels like a hopeful graduation speech. It reflects on how sometimes we need to face tough emotions to find healing.
“Depleted” treats us to a subtly beautiful melody, paired with Tricky’s smooth voice. It gently explores love while also touching on life’s ups and downs. “Spirit War Dub” takes us on a spiritual journey with GAIKA leading the way, while the crunchy electronic sounds carry us along. “On The Back of Forgiveness” is an epic cinematic piece where Space Afrika joins in to paint forgiveness as a powerful tool that can heal even the deepest darkness. Finally, “Safety”, featuring Labi Junior, is a poetic song with haunting vocals and instruments that passes a message encouraging us to face our anger, recognize it as part of ourselves, and find ways to create change by embracing it.
All Our Knives Are Always Sharp dives into a world of uniform culture, self-discovery, political awareness, and the worries we have for our planet. Tony Njoku searches for a steady hold amidst the chaos and highlights what he calls “spiritual preparedness”. He believes that spiritual strength lies at the heart of true change, stressing its importance when tackling politics and revolution. For Njoku, spirituality is a powerful weapon in the fight for a better world.
