Prins Obi "New World Boi" 2023***

The first time I got a CD by Prins Obi I didn't know what to expect; I used to be well informed over the Greek alternative rock scene, but since I left the country 15 years ago it's been hard to keep up. My impression at the time was of a band creatively recycling elements from rock's glory days of the 60's and early 70's. Nothing wrong about that; only downside was that they sounded like a studio band, whereas I prefer bands who pay their dues honing their craft in front of live audiences. This time I (thought I) knew what to expect, but I was mistaken: from the first few seconds, it's evident that Prins Obi's gone funky: opener "New World Boi" reminds me of those 70's Stevie Wonder albums where the artist played all instruments including primitive synthesizers. Indeed, New World Boi doesn't feature The Dream Warriors from the previous album; in fact it's a solo project by Prins Obi a.k.a. Georgios Dimakis, a more varied and ambitious one. Second track "The Slumber Machine" is also funky, but more contemporary, featuring rapping and electronic beats. It's followed by the first Greek language track "UFO από Άλλο Πλανήτη" (UFO from another planet): this has a rather 80's disco-style production and an earworm of a chorus. The day after I received this CD, I played it on the car stereo on the way to the beach with my girlfriend and our two nieces. The girls didn't seem to notice the other songs, but sang along to this one, then asked for continuous repeats - it's now our official anthem of Summer 2024! After three quite upbeat songs, we get a melancholic piano ballad called "Sister Can't Help Falling Down". Along with "Yawning Caves of Blue" and "Oh Vera", they constitute a trio of sympathetic Bowie (or is it Suede?)- indebted glam ballads. "Deep Sleep" incoherently incorporates chants, tribal beats and Jamiroquai-like funk, while "Resurrection" seems to take its cue from Tricky, and "Alice (Don't You Call Me Back Home)" from Beck. So many different styles, and it's not over yet: there's still a successful stab at dub reggae ("Ninja Assassin") and spoken word ("Αυτοψυχανάλυση"(auto-psychoanalysis)). The former also offers some sound voting advice: voting for the anarchists, communists, or ecologists is OK, but we should never vote for the scumbags; if only more people heeded your advice, dear prince... 

**** for UFO από Άλλο Πλανήτη, Yawning Caves of Blue

*** for New World Boi, The Slumber Machine, Sister Can't Help Falling Down, Resurrection, Alice (Don't You Call Me Back Home), Ninja Assassin, Oh Vera

** for Deep Sleep, Αυτοψυχανάλυση