If the name Bracket doesn’t sound familiar, the title of one of their tracks probably does: Yori Yori. That’s the track that brought the Nigerian duo (Nwachukwu Ozioko, aka Vast, and Ali Obumneme, aka Smash) to the international limelight in 2009. Least Expected, the album on which it appeared, pretty much set the template for their sound: mid-tempo highlife-based music with very danceable beats.
Cupid Stories, their most recent album, suggests they know when they’re on to a good thing. The “template” means it’s probably not the sort of album you’re going to listen to in one sitting – that sort of thing is dying out anyway – but if the intention was to attract singles-seeking listeners, Cupid Stories is right on the money.
It’s already yielded a big hit for the duo, Girl, featuring Wizkid, another artist who knows how to get people on their feet.
Girl is arguably the high point of the album, but it’s by no means the only notable track. Others include Remember (ft. 2Face Idibia), Me & U, Desire, Tell Me Something, Beautiful Baby (ft. Flavour) and Looking At You for which they’ve just released a video:
If you want some gbedu music to get your party going, this is an album worth getting. It’s available through NotJustOK, iTunes and Amazon.
This Is Africa visitors living in Philadelphia will be pleased to hear that the duo will be performing at the ACANA African Cultural Festival later this summer. Just remember to go in your dancing shoes.


