Doko Mien
by Ibibio Sound Machine
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Mar 22, 2019
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. Exclaim
    Mar 20, 2019
    90
    Yes, most of us listeners won't understand the Nigerian Ibibio language lyrics that she assuredly bellows and purrs on grooving songs like "Nyak Mien," or "Kuka." But Williams' masterful delivery, not to mention the band's deft playing, more than get the point across throughout this fantastic album.
  2. The Guardian
    Mar 22, 2019
    80
    ISM are most successful when they pare down their maximalist tendencies--on Guess We Found a Way, for instance, a syrupy Scritti Politti-esque ballad spiked with shards of squintingly bright highlife guitar, or the gorgeous I Will Run, which pairs heavenly gospel vocal harmonies with sci-fi synths. It’s on these occasions, when the band’s pan-continental fusion feels casual and classy rather than hyperactively overblown.
  3. AllMusic
    Mar 22, 2019
    80
    Taken as a whole, Doko Mien is two things at once: An assertive collection of forceful dance tunes that defies listeners to sit still, and the most sonically ambitious offering in Ibibio Sound Machine's catalog.
  5. PopMatters
    Mar 21, 2019
    80
    Doko Mien largely sticks to this same palette of funk and retro electropop, but adds sophisticated depth with languid numbers that let Williams show a different end of her tonal range.
  6. Clash Music
    Mar 21, 2019
    80
    While the music loses nothing in its thrilling Afro-electro rhythms and horn flecked grooves, this time it’s delivered with an increased universality as Ibibio Sound System broaden out their lyrical approach to be more direct and questioning, addressing their own community as well as the world at large.
  7. Uncut
    Mar 20, 2019
    80
    In the wrong hands this mish-mash could be a colossal disaster, but delivered through the inimitable vocals and presence of Eno Williams, it melds gracefully. [Apr 2019, p.31]
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  8. The Skinny
    Mar 20, 2019
    80
    Occasionally Ibibio Sound Machine venture a little too far into the wilderness with some slightly half-baked R'n'B and a rather meandering slow number, but they’ve taken risks and for the vast majority of this superb record, it has paid dividends.
  9. The Line of Best Fit
    Mar 29, 2019
    70
    If Uyai was Ibibio Sound Machine darting breathlessly from one sonic landscape to the next, Doko Mien is the band with a more focused approach and a sharpened sound, one that takes the best elements of their inimitable stylistic cocktail, and stamps it with a striking vibrancy and irresistible funk.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Shared Album of 2019

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User Score
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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Lajaleaa
    Oct 24, 2019
    8
    ( 87/100 )

    Eno Williams y su banda tienen la intención de globalizar el lenguaje de la música. La música es un lenguaje universal pero el    ( 87/100 )

    Eno Williams y su banda tienen la intención de globalizar el lenguaje de la música. La música es un lenguaje universal pero el idioma con el que se expresa pueda generar un alcance diverso e importante, por eso Eno prioriza y canta las letras en Ibibio, una de las le lenguas regionales de Nigeria. No solo esa intención es bien recibida y apreciada, sino el concepto musical con el que deciden presentarse: La banda juega con elementos digitales y electrónicos, e integran instrumentos acústicos para darle una dirección orgánica a su música, como por ejemplo el uso de trompetas, instrumentos de cuerda y el juego vocal que la gran Eno logra entre canción y canción es muy divertido de escuchar (escúchese "Tell Me (Doko Mien)"). Me agradó mucho que la banda explora varios moods durante su disco, y aunque tiene canciónes muy Up-Beat, también logra un Indie Rock algo triste y melancólico que también raya de forma muy agradable la linea del Psychedelic Rock. Hay detalles muy interesantes en su música que decoran con personalidad y estilo cada track y aunque no haya una narrativa lineal, el álbum completo demuestra que la banda domina varias emociones y géneros musicales, así mismo se preocupa por mantener una energía que se siente cultural, tropical y colorida. Hay un cóctel de vida y energía en la mesa de Ibibio Sound Machine muy simpática de escuchar y la simple intención de promover un idioma regional a través de una herramienta tan poderosa como la música le da méritos a la banda; además su proceso es suficientemente autentico que es muy fácil de disfrutar.
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    Eno Williams and her band have the intention of globalizing the language of music. But even though the music is a universal language, the tongue with which is expressed can create a diverse and important reach. That's why Eno prioritizes and sing the lyrics in Ibibio, one of the local languages of Nigeria. That's not the only intention that's well-received and appreciated, but the musical concept with which they decide to present themselves too: The band plays with digital and electronic elements and integrates acoustic instruments to give an organic direction to their music, like for example the use of trumpets, string instruments and Enos's vocal game that makes between songs is very entertaining to hear (shout out to "Tell Me (Doko Mien)"). I liked a lot that the band explores several moods in their album and, even though it has very upbeat songs, they also manage to play some sad and melancholic Indie Rock; likewise, they scratch the line of Psychedelic Rock in a very pleasant way. There are very interesting details in their music that embellishes each track with personality and style, and even though there's not a linear narrative in the album, all of it proves that the band masters several emotions and music genres, plus it worries of having energy that feels cultural, tropical and colorful. There's a cocktail of life and energy in the table of Ibibio Sound Machine that is very friendly to hear and the simple intention of promoting a regional language through a powerful tool as music makes of them a band with a lot of merits; also their process is authentic enough to be very easy to enjoy.    … Full Review »
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