Honestly, what’s Alte music without Odunsi’s “Alte Cruise”?, known as the Pathfinder for Alte, the 2018 single helped moved Alte music into a Jew direction, and whiles all the love goes to Odunsi, it’s the Producer’s name that stayed in the shadows of greatness after crafting such an imprint. His production credits span across the Alte scene from Amaarae to PsychoYP, AYLO, Remmy baggings, and more, and on a joint project he teams up with a Ukrainian-Based Nigerian R&B duo Riverays to deliver some finely crafted records.
“Petal Scents” is exactly what the project is about. Four brightly colored tunes on a sonic level that bloom with brisk pop/Alternative efforts and moody cuts that blur together. “Tumble”, the lead single off the project glows with feels of camaraderie kept afloat by pulsating bass and uptempo drums, laced with Riverays’ charming vocals. “OTF” is your new-age default modernized Afro-fusion bedroom anthem, a dance-flavored romance uniquely created at the hands of Yinoluu.
Two songs into the project and you’ll grasp hold of what is being done on the project, a trio coasting on an atmospheric pop-R&B sound uniquely crafted, driven at their own pace. “Nu thang” sees Riverays discuss the object of their affection with lyrics that define a love stuck on misinformation & heartbreaks. It’s more like a sad farewell song, but remains the smoothest song on the project, thanks to the full-on neo-soul singing style employed by the vocalists.
The trio ends the project with the self-titled project “Petal Scent”, it’s the perfect outro, pantheistic, and totally in tune with nature. The song starts off primal with a rap that defines the journey as an act. Everyone pours out emotion on this record. Overall, Petal Scents shows a thrilling, symbiotic relationship that highlights the gifts of both Yinoluu and Riverrays. This project shows that African Alternative music has found solid ground to last on.