We recently checked out the new album “An African Island in an American City” from Atlanta based Moken ,a Cameroonian Afro Futurist / Avant Garde pop artist with one of the most unique croons you’ve ever heard, is releasing his first new material since 2019’s “Missing Chapters,” which was lauded by Fader, PRI’s The World, Popmatters and more.

You can listen to “An African Island in an American City” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here

“I have always lived on an island of my own dreams, even back in Africa,” shares Cameroonian, avant-garde, Afro-pop artist and balladeer Moken Nunga. “Today, I am experiencing island life in America, as I’ve been abandoned by many members of my family. If you can stay optimistic in adversity such as this, you can produce your best work. Out of isolation came the best songs of my career.”

The Atlanta, Georgia-based artist is referring to his finely crafted third album, An African Island in an American City. The 15-song record is an imaginative and purposeful collection of songs with a freewheeling melting-pot aesthetic that cements Moken’s artistic identity while it also showcases his versatility.

We were first introduced to Moken back in August, with his amazing single “Glory Days” We have said it before but it bares repeating , “We have been reviewing music in one form or another for 30 years, We can honestly say that “Glory Days “ from Moken, truly took our breath away” .

You can watch the video for “Glory Days” below

An African Island in an American City is personal, political, abstractly poetic, and, at times, playful. We were absolutely mesmerized by the opening track “Island Life” . The track has this vibrant energy that really made the song stand out . Vocally Moken shines every so bright on “Island life” The haunting “Blood River” is a sparse and searing ballad with Moken’s flickering vocals delicately supported by a moody piano track. The song courageously and directly addresses the desertion of his family. Moken sings: now I am free, now I am safe, singing this song, for you to know/blood river, blood river, blood river/I have been swimming in you for fifty years/blood river, river of my blood,river of my bloooode/I have been swimming in you for fifty years.

We were taken by the hypnotic beats on “Mama Africa “ We were especially moved by the moving vocal performance by Moken, you could feel that he was giving his whole heart and soul in the performance.

The majestic, “New Hope Of The Morning,” features an overlay of Moken’s vocals with his crying melodies weaving in and out of his commanding low-register vocals. It’s a stinging political song in the style of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. The song’s emotional apex is the talk poem where Moken says: O those who believe are running straight on the clashing glow under the sun/under the wave of conflicts/no one is backing up, without believes, without believes/rage rising, clashing, millions running,coming out loose, coming out loose/from their old and new cages. “I know this song captures what is going on in America and the world right now,”

“An African Island In An American City” from Moken , is more than just an album. It is a beautifully brilliant musical experience that you will never forget