Only You

Sound DNA

• Blues
• Jump Blues

• warm
• euphoric
• groovy

About

Steve Monite’s 1984 debut is a crucial snapshot of early Nigerian electro-funk. In the early ’80s, after failing to make it in London, the 23-year-old artist returned to Lagos to record with producer Nkono Teles, freshly back from New York with a suitcase full of disco records. Nigeria’s military dictatorship had ended—briefly—and Monite delivered a sound suited for the national sense of optimism. “Only You” pairs an irresistible bassline with soaring vocal harmonies and futuristic Moog zaps, while “I Had a Dream” is mesmerizing reggae. But a melancholy undercurrent runs through “Things Fall Apart,” written following the dictatorship’s return in 1983. Released in a moment of turmoil, Monite’s debut quickly vanished; decades later, original copies would trade for more than $1000. This 2022 reissue underscores the timelessness of Monite’s stirring electronic soul.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits