Horoscopes: An album that showcases Basketmouth’s curatorial sparkle

Few Afrobeats albums match his lavishly layered 2020 debut Yabasi, co-conspired with Duktor Sett and a constellation of Afrobeats greats, and boasting the quality of pepper soup prepared by seasoned hands.

Horoscopes, the follow-up collection, which arrived days ago, comes with nine songs but sticks to a similar formula: highlife sovereignty, subtle comedy, rich themes and the rare advantage of a sparkling roster of vocal talent.

Like the album it follows, Horoscopes’ most outstanding attributes include its curator’s valuable philosophical speculations, distinct ear for emphatic low ends and lasting melody, and meticulous patience comparable to a vintner. As a result, depending on the day one consumes them, Basketmouth’s LPs call up the feelings of a long, happy stroll, or nostalgic dialogue.

Horoscopes exhibits a mature, lithe, marinated sound that balances delicate vocal and lyrical display, be they from emotive crooners Johny Drille and Simi, Afrobeats forebearer 2Baba, falsetto experts Oxlade, Buju and Wande Coal, highlife stewards Kwabena Kwabena and The Cavemen, or hip hop giants like MI Abaga and Falz.

While Horoscopes illustrates Basketmouth’s freshly exciting but unsung explorations, it is an unmistakable forecast of his musical eminence.

Artist: Basketmouth
Album: Horoscopes
Label: Baron’s World/Empire
Year: 2022