The venerable René Lacaille
There is a Mauritian restaurant in Toronto (there used to be two). Can you picture Mauritian food? Probably not. Few places sound more exotic and out-of-the-way. But Mauritius was a key point on the sea lanes of the British Empire. A former British colony with a population speaking a French patois, but descended from South Asians, Africans, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabs, and whatever else wandered by, Mauritius provides a sophisticated, cosmopolitan cuisine. Very tasty. Much the same can be said of the music.
But there is not just Mauritian music to listen to. There is Réunion, an overseas département of France, settled by Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Tamils. There are the Islamic Comoros, and the closely related French possession of Mayotte. There is the Republic of the Seychelles, largely Catholic, though formerly a British colony, and the most indebted country, per capita, in the world. There is tiny Rodrigues. And finally, there is the huge and populous island of Madagascar, whose culture and language come originally from Borneo, half-way around the world from them. The diversity of the nations at the western end of the Indian Ocean produces a delightful variety of music. The performers in this collection include Tarika, Feo-Gasy, Ricky Randimbiarison, Jean-Noël, and Lego from Madagascar; Denis Azor, and Kaya from Mauritius; Danyel Ward, Françoise Guimbert, Baster, Tam-Tam Des Cools from Réunion; Kaskavel from Rodrigues; M’Toro Chamou er les Watoro from Mayotte; Belle Lumière from Comoros; Seychelles String Band and Seychelles All Stars; and even a band from Zanzibar (Culture Music Club), which is part of Tanzanyia, but an offshore island. But if there is anyone who could be called a big star, it is René Lacaille, the master of the spicy séga rhythms of Réunion, here performing with American guitarist Bob Brozman. Lacaille is well known in the French music scene, and has successfully toured here in Canada.
Rough Guide compilations are always well chosen. It is unlikely that you will come across most of the this material, even in a well-stocked “world music” store. The music is mostly upbeat and danceable. After Lacaille, I was most drawn to the Malagasy musicians, especially Feo-Gasy, but it would be hard to choose favourites. All the bands are good.
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