Various Artists – Alefa Madagascar – Salegy, Soukous & Soul from the Red Island 1974-1984 (STRUT207, 2019)
Strut continues its essential compilation series of Indian Ocean sounds with ‘Alefa Madagascar’, the first compilation to detail the distinctive culture of salegy, soukous, acoustic folk and soul in Madagascar during the 1970s and 1980s.
‘Alefa Madagascar’ showcases the rich variety of genres during what some call the golden era of Malagasy music. The anthology features a mix of vibrant traditional rhythms, call and response vocals and the introduction of intricate electric guitars and the now vintage sounds of the electric organ.
The artists featured played an essential role in the development of modern Malagasy music. The album includes Jean Kely Et Basth; Los Matadores; Soymanga; Roger Georges; Ny Anjarasoa; Charles Maurin Poty; Mahaleo; Papa James; Los Pepitos Et Leur Ensemble; Jeannot Rabeson Et Son Orchestre; Feon’ala; Terak Anosy Group; Saka Dit The King; Michael; Falafa; Nino Rafah; Kaiamba Orchestra; and Atrefy Andriana.
The album has cover artwork by illustrator Lewis Heriz. ‘Alefa Madagascar’ is compiled by Reunionese DJs La Basse Tropicale and Percy Yip Tong (Mauritius). It is available on CD, vinyl and digital.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.