Madagascar music reviews

There are some tracks on this album that really stand out (notably the first one, and one featuring a flute) but otherwise the album is much like his others, with excellent production and plenty of fast-paced dance music. Somehow, his previous album appeals to me more because of the quality of songwriting. The tempos are more varied, and the formula seems to change more as well. Still, worth a listen- everything Jaojoby does is exemplary of this genre, so album preference really comes down to a matter of personal taste.

Eusebe Jaojoby is called "The King of Salegy", a style of dance music from Madagascar with a fast 12/8 beat, often with a high-hat cymbal accent on the 2nd beat in each triplet. This is his first new album available in the U.S. since 1997. Jaojoby sings lead and wrote 10 of the 12 songs. His band includes two electric guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, and several (mostly female) backup singers. Many of the songs have call-and-response choruses, with the backup singers answering Jaojoby. All songs are in the native Malagasy language. This album isn't notably better or worse than the two previous Jaojoby albums I own, but it's a pleasure throughout, with catchy songs, infectious dance beats, and solid production. The guitar players have always been good, but I notice them more on this album, especially on "Un Faible Pour les Filles", where one uses a guitar sound reminiscent of Henry Kaiser. "Alima" is repeated here from the 1992 "Salegy!" album. Closing track "Allo Tsika Ndeha Hisoma" sounds like a cross between "Malemilemy" (from the "E Tiako" album) and the traditional "Mandry Ve?" Many thanks to the French Indigo label for continuing to release Malagasy music in the U.S.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)