8/10

Some albums feel like quiet reflections, while others arrive with the weight of lived experience behind every note. And with her newest offering 'It’s About Time', Canadian-born, Ireland-based artist Ndidi O delivers an emotionally rich and deeply human record that bridges personal history with wider social realities.

Across the album, Ndidi draws from the storytelling traditions of roots music while weaving together influences that span continents. The project brings together the soulful intensity of North American blues with the melodic storytelling embedded in Irish folk traditions. By blending these styles, Ndidi reveals how closely related these musical languages truly are, as both traditions thrive on emotional honesty, resilience, and the power of the human voice to carry stories across generations.

At the centre of the album stands Ndidi’s unmistakable vocal presence. Her delivery feels grounded and deeply expressive, capable of shifting effortlessly between tenderness and defiance. Whether reflecting on personal transformation or confronting the larger political forces shaping our world, she sings with the kind of conviction that commands attention without ever feeling forced.

One of the most striking pieces on the record is 'Young One', which addresses the complex emotional terrain surrounding bodily change and the passage of time. It’s a rare and courageous topic for a song, yet Ndidi approaches it with clarity and compassion. The track captures both the grief and empowerment that accompany life’s transitions, giving voice to an experience that is often overlooked in popular music.

Elsewhere, the album reaches outward to explore themes of migration and belonging. Traditional repertoire such as 'Farewell My Green Valleys' resonates with particular poignancy in the context of her own journey across borders and cultures. The song becomes a reflection on displacement, memory, and the search for home.

The closing rendition of 'She Moved Through The Fair' is equally captivating. Stripped back and vocally focused, the performance highlights her ability to inhabit traditional material with profound sensitivity. Her interpretation feels both reverent and deeply personal, drawing connections between Irish vocal traditions and the spiritual roots of blues music.

Throughout 'It’s About Time', Ndidi O demonstrates that music can still be a space for truth-telling. The album examines ageing, displacement, friendship, and resistance with unflinching honesty, yet it never loses sight of the resilience that lies beneath those experiences. The result is a remarkable body of work that feels timeless, fearless, and profoundly human.