It’s a depressing time to be alive, according to Ghostpoet. After years of heavy-hearted introspection, the twice Mercury-nominated Obaro Ejimiwe turns his gaze outwards on his fourth album, offering a sombre outlook on society with tracks such as the apocalyptic Karoshi (“stockpile food, panic button glued in place”) and harrowing Immigrant Boogie. There’s occasional soul-searching between the social commentary – Woe Is Meee, Ejimiwe’s second collaboration with Massive Attack’s Daddy G, is a bluesy highlight. Once again, Ejimiwe forgoes the disjointed electronic sounds of his first two records in favour of a hazy alt-rock backing, but he’s now at home in this style and his languid, sung-spoken monologues sound their most assured.
