9: Harmattan & Winter

9: Harmattan & Winter, also known simply as Harmattan & Winter, is the ninth studio album by Nigerian singer Brymo. It was released on September 9, 2021, along with 9: Èsan. The album comprises nine tracks and is a combination of alternative rock, folk, sentimental ballad, and fusion-rock. Recorded entirely in English, Harmattan & Winter addresses topics of heartbreak, self-discovery, romance, mental health, and monogamy. Bigfoot produced the entire album, which deviates from Libels subtle denial and Yellows hedonistic perspective. The title track, "Harmattan & Winter," was released as the album's only single. Harmattan & Winter received positive reviews from music critics, who called it a "morose album" and praised Brymo's songwriting.

Background
Harmattan & Winter was released concurrently with Brymo's eighth studio album Èsan. It comprises nine tracks and is a mixture of alternative rock, folk, sentimental ballad, and fusion-rock. The album was recorded entirely in English and explores themes of monogamy, mental health, romance, despair, self-discovery, and heartbreak. Brymo dedicated Harmattan & Winter to his significant other and described it as an "ode to every 1, to every SIGMA, woman and man, to order!". He also said it pays homage to karma and to the seasons. On the record, Brymo's emotions are depicted in two separate ways: one side seems to wish for a calm connection, while the other side is filled with a great deal of cynicism.

Producer Bigfoot, who oversaw Brymo's extended play Libel (2020), produced every song on Harmattan & Winter. The album's title symbolizes a transition from insufficiency to abundance. From a sonic standpoint, the album departs from Yellows hedonistic viewpoint and Libels subtle denial. Moreover, it produces a serene, calming musical experience in contrast to Libels positivism and Yellows electronic pop.

Music and lyrics
The album opens with "F**king Awesome", a reflective track with breathy vocals and heavy keyboards. On the record, Brymo wants his partner to be sympathetic and begs for patience and compassion while he pursues financial success. "Harmattan & Winter", the title track, chronicles Brymo's development as a man and an artist while detailing his path to self-actualization. Music critic Michael Kolawole said the song's instrumentation and Brymo's emotional lyrics "provide a feeling that's hard to neglect". In the gloomy track "The Dark," Brymo reveals his vulnerability, takes full responsibility for his previous transgressions, and shows off how self-aware he is. Emmanuel Daraloye likened the song to Èsan's "Òkùnkùn".

In "I Don't Have a Heart", a track similar to "Ọkán mi ti fọ́ Wẹ́wé" from Èsan, Brymo talks about his brief depressive episode during his temporary split from his wife and his attempts to keep his marriage intact. Daraloye characterized the song as "a middle finger to monogamy". In the mid-tempo braggadocio track "Beast", Brymo portrays a lovelorn character who apologizes to his significant other for his prolonged absence and lack of emotional support. In the soulful ballad "Winifred", he praises his mother-in-law's generosity and tenacity. This is exemplified by lyrics like "Give it all for Winifred, she knows, her heart is made of gold". Daraloye called the song a "celebration of love" and said it "functions as the spiritual centre-piece of the record".

"Emotions and Limbs" addresses Brymo's temporary separation from his wife in a subtle manner. In the song's opening verse, the shattered feelings that caused the brief split are briefly described; in the second verse, Brymo discusses his sex life with other women and how it left him feeling hollow. The album's eighth track, "We All Lose Sometimes", was described by Daraloye as being "reflective and hopeful, with a few kind words spared for sufferers of depression and anxiety". The closing track to Harmattan & Winter, "There's a Place", features an epilogue that touches on themes of freedom, hope, and victory.

Singles
The album's lead single, "Harmattan & Winter", was released on September 9, 2021. The Promise Charles-directed music video for the song was released on the same day of the album's release. Kolawole praised the video's visual tics and interpretive dancing and said it "provides a clearer picture of the song's story".

Critical reception
Harmattan & Winter received positive reviews from music critics. Afrocritik writer Emmanuel Daraloye rated the album 7.2 out of 10, commending its title and Brymo's songwriting. Daraloye also said the album "holds its own as a meaningful body of work" and that "empathy and hope" are at its core. Pulse Nigeria's Motolani Alake awarded the album a rating of 7.0 out of 10, characterizing it as a "morose album, filled with terse ideas of love and admittance of imperfection". Conversely, Alake said the album's sonic topography was impacted by Brymo's decision to interweave love songs with pessimistic records.

Music critic Michael Kolawole called the album "a compelling portrait of an artist devoted to good music" and praised its instrumentation. Moreover, Kolawole said the singer's "emotionally wrecking lyrics provide a feeling that's hard to neglect".