Sway

Gérald Toto has kept us waiting seven years for a new solo album. The French-Antillean multi-instrumentalist does not disappoint with his latest offering Sway, though. The range of influences on the album is profound. It is flamenco, folk, funk, soul, jazz, blues, pop, electronic, African, European, and much more, all at once, entirely unashamedly. The effect is surreal and ethereal, breezy yet bold; a musical dreamscape that commands you to stop and stare. Such a diverse record would be impressive if Toto were leading a band of global musicians. But no. Sway is entirely written, performed and produced by Toto. Every riff, vocal harmony, beatbox and beat, no matter what part of the world the influence hails from, is by Toto ’ an incredible feat of creativity.

There is not much to criticise on this album. Perhaps it veers too close to easy listening in places, and some of the electronic glitches may irritate acoustic purists. But that is being picky ’ there is little to fault. Anybody that has created music individually will know how difficult it is to make something unique. But after years of collaborating, perhaps the time is right for Toto.