Blundetto
Cousin Zaka (Vol. II)

Dilijans is the lone album released by Ayizan, the brilliant Haitian ensemble founded by guitarist and composer Alix Pascal. Recorded in New York in 1984, Dilijans presents a powerful combination of Black American jazz and rara, a Haitian musical form that is played to accompany processions in street festivals, religious ceremonies, protests, and beyond. Sung in Haitian creole, Pascal’s songs throughout Dilijans comment on complex sociopolitical realities. His lyrics were cloaked in metaphor as a means of avoiding a direct critique of (or confrontation with) the repressive U.S.-backed Haitian government.The album opens with “Deblozay,” which is built upon a percolating rhythm and call-and-response choral vocals. Felix “Fefe” Etienne’s bass playing on here is especially fluid and dexterous, anchoring the band rhythmically, melodically, and harmonically. As the band’s intensity builds, Pascal’s lyrics warn the community that if they don’t speak out about the political issues of the day, chaos will overtake them and their country.“Pwoblem” opens with subtly swinging rhythm before Pascal’s lead and the backing choral vocals take center stage. Etienne once again guides us through the song with some nimble, melodic basslines and unexpected changes that shift the entire emotional tone whenever they occur. The interplay of the musicians here is impossibly intricate and the song’s relentless, hypnotic groove makes the nearly eight-minute runtime fly by. The title track is an anthemic call to action with an entrancing vocal melody. The guitar, bass, and percussion are so inextricably locked that the musicians seem to move together as one cohesive unit. Ayizan show off their jazz chops on “Tribiilayson.” The song’s intro section consists of an electric piano and saxophone briefly playing around one another before the bass, drums, and vocals join in to flesh out the tune. Alix “Bouyou” Amboise’s saxophone playing is a standout element of “Tribiilayson” as he solo’s with fire and inventiveness. In the song’s lyrics, Pascal tells the story of a man who has grown old, only to perish before getting his affairs in order.Much like jazz, rara is a social music, inextricably linked to the community that produced it. Ayizan exhibited this by putting together a collection of songs that speak to the shared experiences and immediate concerns of Haitians everywhere. The result is an album in which the politics, music, and spirit of the Haitian people coalesce beautifully.

Completing the recent LP reissue of Black Voices by Tony Allen, Comet presents a 2 tracks remix EP by Folamour and NIT. The two rising French producers provide great new versions of “Get Together” and “The Same Blood”.FOLAMOUR: Behind this surprising name is hidden one of the main House producer and DJ from France. Label manager of the amazing record labels Moonrise Hill Material and FHUO Records, the artist using lots of different aliases has already burnt most of the best dancefloors in Europe and beyond. 2017 has been an important year in his career with releases on Church and Glitterbox labels, and a debut album on Moonrise Hill Material and Classic Music Company, after a whole series of successful records on quality labels such as All City Records, Fauxpas Musik and Sleazy Beats Recordings. Working on his second album after two EPs upcoming soon, it makes no doubt that it's only the beginning for Folamour.NIT: NIT is the studio project of the French musician Corentin Kerdraon. After several years working at radios in Paris he released a first EP called Dessous de Plage in May 2017, displaying condensed grooves with multiple references, from Jean-Claude Vannier to Dam Funk... Alternating Pop projects and more experimental compositions he's present on different musical scenes as keyboard player and producer. He has just recorded an EP for the American singer COLA BOY released in spring 2018 on the French label Record Makers.