Dzen

There are many projects that aim for a pan-African sound; they usually rely on collaboration between different cultures. Not for Adjiri Odametey though – he does it all himself. Ghanaian-born Odametey's instrumental prowess nevertheless extends across the continent: he adds kora, balafon, mbira and kalimba to his guitar and cool, deep voice. His influences are equally eclectic: there's glimpses of palmwine, Shona music, reggae, mbalax and bossa nova, and many tracks bring to mind the Acholi music of Geoffrey Oryema.

There's something odd about the record, however. The production, while clean, is a bit strange here and there – there's a distracting and recurring effect that clips Odametey's words short, though it's nothing major. Musically, Dzen is pleasant, although the blend of styles leaves a lot of the tracks sounding vaguely similar, meaning the album can feel a bit watered down. But if you enjoy your African music smooth, this album is one to try.