Order of Direction by Afefe Iku: A Sonic Gut Punch You Didn’t Know You Needed
Alright, let’s get real for a sec. Afefe Iku’s Order of Direction isn’t just another dance album—it’s a vibe grenade that explodes in your ears and leaves you scrambling to find the nearest dark room with strobe lights. Released back in 2014 under Yoruba Records, this UK-born masterpiece blends ambient textures, house grooves, experimental twists, and club-ready beats like it ain’t no thing. And yeah, when Osunlade hops on as executive producer, you know they’re not playing around.
The album's got seven tracks total, but two stood out so hard they might as well have slapped me in the face. First up, “Apollo 11.” This tune is pure chaos wrapped in silk sheets. It starts off slow—like lazy Sunday morning vibes—but then BOOM, it flips into this hypnotic groove that feels like floating through space while being chased by disco aliens. When Osunlade jumps in on the remix version? Forget about it. That man added layers of soulful synth work that hit different. Like, damn-near spiritual-level different. Every time I hear those keys, I’m ready to throw my hands up and surrender to whatever universe Afefe’s building here.
Then there’s “Compass Rose,” which is basically the auditory equivalent of wandering through a neon-lit maze at 3 AM. The beat builds steadily, teasing you with these eerie pads before dropping into something so smooth it makes your brain melt. Honestly, I couldn’t tell if I wanted to cry or start a rave. Maybe both? Either way, the production quality (shoutout Martin Iveson for mastering) is so crisp it could cut glass. You can feel every layer breathing, pulsing, living its own life. It’s wild.
Look, credit where it’s due—the visuals match the sound too. Kabio Design House killed the art direction, and Robert Ross’s artwork? Straight fire. But none of that would matter if Afefe Iku didn’t bring the heat as both producer and artist. She stitched together genres like Dance, Electronic, Ambient, and Experimental without breaking a sweat, making an album that feels cohesive even when it’s all over the place stylistically.
Here’s the kicker though: Order of Direction doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. It knows exactly what it is—a bold, unapologetic journey through soundscapes most people are too scared to explore. And honestly? Listening to it feels like peeking behind some cosmic curtain only a few get to see.
So yeah, if you’re looking for background music to sip coffee to, keep scrolling. But if you want something that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go? Press play. Oh, and one last thing—listening to this album somehow made me realize how much I hate my alarm clock. Weird flex, but true.
