Rarely does
an album grip you from quite literally the first note. From the opening note of Preludio, you’re
hooked. The haunting lone voice grips
you and holds you, and won’t go. It’s
nothing short of beautiful.
This album
contains songs which from generations of Haitian emigrants, passed down and
given a lifting shot of life. Exiled
once from Africa to Haiti, then to Cuba, the members of the Choir are descended
from former freed Haitian slaves. Songs
of freedom and hope with melodies that will lift your soul.
Santiman is
the follow-up to the widely acclaimed Tande-La released in 2010. Produced by John Metcalfe (Morrissey, Blur,
John Cale) and recorded at Peter Grabriels Real World Studios, the arrangements
are enhanced by several musicians who were coincidentally recording at the same
time for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad celebrations. The songs, handed down for generations are
sung in both Spanish and Haitian Creole (a French/English/West African mix) and
tell tales of survival and poverty, but also the celebration of life.
There are
songs that you might recognise the melody to – Camina Como Chencha being one –
a Guaracha, which is a song with a humorous theme. A typically Cuban sounding song about a girl
with ‘gambadas’ (translating as bandy legs!).
I defy you to not want to get up and dance, I defy you to even keep
still!
The intro
to Llegada bears a quite remarkable resemblance to Soul Limbo by Booker T &
The MG’s, a far cry from the theme of the song - poverty stricken life on an
island full of drought. It does however
have a great wall of sound comprising of vocals from both sexes, and, a quite
amazing female vocal the likes of which I have never heard before. Rising and rising to a quite superb
crescendo.
Despite
having a very short moment that sounds like Paul McCartney’s The Frog Song, Fey
Oh Di Nou transcends into another magical song.
The sort of song that you feel completely at rest with, one where all
the problems of the World disappear for three and a half minutes. Voices blend together over a simple backing
of slow percussion and nothing else.
Possibly one of the most beautiful pieces of music you will ever hear in
your life.
Fidel
Romero Miranda has a voice that sounds like it’s been around the block a few
times –weathered and torn, but repaired again, a jazz piano thrown in courtesy
of guest musician Tom Cawley adds another dimension and direction to the album.
Several
songs on the album are almost entirely vocal, adding a haunting, ethereal feel
to the tracks, Soufle Van (Mangaje) is another such song. Ending with a lone female voice, you really
need a few seconds to reflect and catch your breath before Pale Pale
starts. It’s over ten minutes of paced
pleasure. Maybe more what you’d expect
from Cuban music, it’s dance beat hides the true message of a protest song
based on folklore over previous military atrocities.
Written by
Choir member, Teresita Romero Miranda (she also sings one of the solo’s), Pou
Ki Ayiti Kriye starts slowly but soon reaches a more recognisable tempo describing
the suffering of Haitian people. The
pain of love is brought with the emotional Juramento where the whole Choir lend
their voices.
This album
is one not to be missed. It will enthral
you, and, it will take you on a musical journey that you rarely ever travel
on. To quote the Choir Director, Emilia
Diaz Chavez – “Santiman gives us great hope and joy.......it comes from our
hearts”.
Superb.
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