Scintillating trumpets usher in K. Flow’s mellowed vocals across the record, as he kickstarts the sensual Afrobeats bop, ‘Put It In’. The songs spins off with a piecemeal percussive progression that amplifies K. Flow’s breezy, hedonist lyricism, as he sings, ‘She call my phone by 3:30/ Me, I pull up my shirt and I put it on/ Take up my keys and I stuck it in.’ The song spins as one of the most vibrant records off K. Flow’s just-released album, Expression of SELF, ringing with a particular euphoria that soaks the 13-track record.

The album begins with a spotlight on Afro-sentimental philosophies, with the standout intro ‘One Family Tree’ (with Shanika Malcolm) where listeners are taught that “Blackness is the original technology; the first blueprint, the ancient code/ (and) Melanin don’t just make you beautiful; it makes you powerful.” It cascades into a diary of K. Flow’s romantic memoirs and survivalist tales from the second track, “Slow Down”, all through till the outro “Luton”, combining RnB, Afro Pop, Reggaeton, and UK Bashment.

One of the highlights of the album is its direct, raunchy lyricism, which heightens the album’s catharsis. K Flow’s poetic lyrics, especially with its rich use of repetition and symbolism, as in the song, ‘Put It In’, for instance: “Pick up my shirt, me I put it on/ Pull off my trousers, me I tuck it in/ Take up my keys and I stick it in.’ Another prime example where his repetition and emphasis soars is the song, ‘Wyne’ where he sings, ‘Do the dance, open and close/ Whine am, run am, bend am dey go.’

Throughout the album, K. Flow serves powerful renditions that shape the airy, euphoric feel of the album. His singing prowess — especially his masterful use of the vibrato effect (Put It In) –, catchy lyricism and his code-switching where he blends Pidgin, Yoruba and English on songs like Luton, Wyne, 100 Men, Fimisile, enliven the album’s relatability and enjoyability. On ‘Fimisile’ he employs Arabian scales with the song’s intro, introducing several layers of “emo-tuned” harmonies that shapes the album’s feel. His stellar use of Patois on the album, especially on standout tracks like the reggaeton bop, “Dreadlocks”, also butters the storytelling with extra rhythmic contexts.

The 13-track voyage drifts across mid-tempo melodies, with standout denouncers like ‘Water Side Remix’ (with Lyrically Touched) where he unlocks a stronger RnB-laced melancholia that closes the curtains on his love memoirs in the album. The closing tracks, ‘Freedom’ and ‘Luton’ spark some extra energy as K. Flow reminisces on “Coming from the streets and the Zanga/ (but) me and my brothers wanna get the money the right way,” affirming that “Every man get hin own turn/ (and) Me and my boys for the Luton!” on the optimistic outro.

The entire record shines for its cathartic effect, with the music voyaging on strong currents of lust and romantic affection, with easy-to-recall lyrics. The song’s pitfalls lie within the audio mixing and a few parts where some vocal lyrics were incoherently articulated, especially after the refrain.

Nonetheless, K Flow’s soothing vocal delivery, good lyrical storytelling and intriguing music composition helps the record achieve catharsis, as well as boost the album’s replay value. While the album struggles with a tracklisting problem, especially with prolonged melancholia surfacing within the album’s first half, the tension breaker in “Water Side Remix” paces the album towards a grand finish.

Overall, the album’s enjoyability is tucked within its soothing melodies, which mostly create a sensual and romantic sonic experience. It is a tad reminiscent of songs like The Weeknd’s ‘Earned It’. His pianic compositions show their quiet power, underlying the entire record with arousal, while the trumpet’s brass power and mellowed drum kicks slaps energy onto the record like plaster on a wall.

K Flow, born Kelvin Mongor, is a Nigerian-born music producer and artiste with over a decade-and-half experience. His music has appeared on the BBC Radio, as well as other home-based platforms. He performs his music across the UK, where he presently resides.