Radyo Siwèl

This fresh, intriguing and unexpected set comes from a Haitian singersongwriter who had been away from the island for 20 years before she returned to explore the culture of her homeland. Mélissa Laveaux grew up in Canada with her Haitian parents, but was unaware of much of the history until her visit, when she became fascinated by the US occupation of the country between 1915 and 1934. The Americans moved in following the assassination of the Haitian president and stayed there under the auspices of restoring order, concerned about German ambitions in the region. Culturally, resistance was marked by protest songs and voodoo folk songs, which have now been re-worked and updated by Laveaux, with her own guitar supplemented by the guitar and cuatro of Drew Gonsalves, leader of the Trinidadian band Kobo Town. The album was recorded in just five days, and though the production work may be rough and ready, it succeeds thanks to the energetic, driving rhythms, and Laveaux’s cool, compelling voice. There are some great songs here, from the voodoo spiritual ‘Twa Fey’, backed by a throbbing guitar riff, to the celebratory ‘Nan Fon Bwa’ and her own composition ‘Jolibwa’, a tribute to a murdered journalist that also happens to be a great dance song.