Available
Zene't Panon
Maloya Malbar
Tamil rhythms recorded by the river in the lush greenery of eastern Réunion. The B-side features reworks by Jako Maron,
EMB, Boogzbrown, Aleksand Saya and Loya. Zène'T Panon's music is unique even within the musical microcosm of Réunion
Island. On the eastern coast, the most humid and verdant part of the island, the group imbues their version of maloya
(a music genre from Réunion Island) with Tamil rhythms and melodies. JuJu Sounds' recording session on the banks of the
Rivière des Marsouins, deep among the lush vegetation, featured the hypnotic sounds of Tamil instruments: the morlon,
tarlon and malbar drums. That lazy day by the river with the entire Zène'T Panon family contrasted sharply with the
group's explosive energy during their usual recordings. Besides their Tamil influences, the group are distinguished by
their creative capacity for new rhythms and the energy that they deploy. The perfect harmony playing out between the
musicians meant the material could be recorded outdoors in a single evening with practically no retakes, which was a
blessing as a tropical rainstorm broke just minutes after the session ended.
This album is not just another nicely packaged world music artefact. Nor is it an academic attempt to archive
Afro-Malagasy and Tamil heritage. Firstly, we don't recognise the concept of 'traditional music.' As with all concepts,
of course, it serves a purpose. But music cultures have never been something fixed in time and space, something that can
describe a permanent identity - on the contrary, they have always been rather fluid. The fixed, permanent trope is the
domain of politics and institutional religion. Nowhere can this fluidity be observed better than in Creole cultures
worldwide. Already a blend of African, Malagasy, Tamil and European influences, maloya is now in the process of yet
another transformation. This album is a bridge between the old-school, instrumental maloya and the thriving electro
maloya scene. Played at private kabaré ceremonies by well-respected gramouns, maloya has been at the heart of Reunionese
culture for generations. Can the kabaré - steeped in spiritualism, devotion and magic - become digital? Can a new form
of maloya be a vehicle for the complexity of local social contexts? These questions are not unknown to the artists of
new wave electro maloya. With this album, Jako Marron, EMB, Boogzbrown, Aleksand Saya and Loya strive to provide the
answers. Comes on clear orange vinyl.
Price
€ 31.95
Genre
Format
LP - 1 disk
Release
25-10-2022
Label
Item-nr
527722
EAN
5060820130023
Availability
In stock