Night to Night

Geoffrey Oryema

Released 25 August 1996

  1. Sardinia Memories (After Hours)
  2. Medieval Dream
  3. At My Window
  4. Careless World
  5. Miracle Man
  6. Nàa Dream
  7. LPJ Christine
  8. Dancing Steps (Ballad)
  9. To The Metro
  10. Gari Moshi (Steam Train)
  11. Passage At Dusk
  12. Sardinia Memories (Early Evening)
  13. On This Night
  14. Bye Bye Lady Dame

Liner notes

Night to Night is best described as a 24-hour daydream, a soundtrack to a life taking in memories of the Ugandan capital Kampala’s late-night bars, of evenings lulled by the sound of the seven-stringed nanga harp, and of love stolen away on the Eurostar.

Cajun producer/guitarist Daniel Lanois sings in remembrance of a woman called “Christine,” while Oryema evokes an Everypoet figure on “Miracle Man” and sings of the Parisian Metro, where the outside is only bearable underground.

Expansive guitars and multi-textured percussion blend and vie with the whimsical, the melodic, and the mesmeric. This is Geoffrey Oryema at his most universal, a man forever influenced by his African heritage but expressing himself in English and opening wide to Jean-Pierre Alarcen’s pop rock roots. A unique talent whose musical identity has been established away from the confines of simple categorisation.

Listen

Further Listening

  • Exile

    Geoffrey Oryema

    Released 09 September 1990

    Produced by Brian Eno, this album introduced the world to the struggles of singer-songwriter Geoffrey Oryema, who fled Uganda at a young age following the secret assassination of his father, a government minister. A wistful reflection on the Uganda of Oryema’s youth and the sadness of his exile.
  • Beat The Border

    Geoffrey Oryema

    Released 26 September 1993

    On this album, the powerful roots of Oryema's African heritage have a more subtle influence on the music. The songs are now more universal, expressed in English, his second language, and influenced by guitarist Jean-Pierre Alarcen's pop-rock roots.

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