#streamcaribbean - 2024 albums chronicles from Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana
Here are short reviews of albums released in 2024 that caught my attention.
Arnaud Dolmen & Leonardo Montana - LéNo (march 2024)
Well, I hesitated for a long time before putting it in my selection. This is Arnaud Dolmen’s 3rd album. I loved “Tonbé Lévé” [read the Karayib focus]. I invited him to a #streamcaribbean discussion for “Adjusting”... I like fangirling, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to present this 3rd project without being redundant... But is it my fault if the artistic quality is always there?
Even if Leonardo Montana and Arnaud Dolmen have been accomplices for several years, this is the first time their two universes coexist. I still don't understand how they manage to give this impression of musical explosion, but everything remains coherent. The album is constructed like a story, with spirals sucking you in from one chapter to the next. There are twists and turns and suspense. You never know where the drums and piano are going to take you, but they get you there without hesitation. I don't have the technical knowledge to give a more detailed description... On their Bandcamp, you can get more info on each track.
My Karukerament tracks
Zouky Monky - a Zouk variation in tribute to Thelonious Monk. It's up to us to give our Zouk the letters of nobility.
LéNo - a CUTE song. It's happy, it's danceable, it's teasing. Purists may correct me if I'm wrong, but you can hear the biguine?
Goldn.B - 2024 Carats (may 2024)
This is her first EP released on her own label Luz. It's promising, contemporary and dancehall/trap. When Goldn.B (French Guyana) finds the right branding, her artistic direction and lyrical themes should follow to set her apart in a market where there aren't many dancehall female singers, so she should go for it.
My Karukerament tracks
Real Ké Mo - the right mix of Creole and English on a theme that can speak to both male and female audiences.
Ding Dong - that's the YSN touch. It's melodious yet street. Audiences can do their karaoke.
Lov’Nee - Lunar (juillet 2024)
It's not purely “conscious” rap. It's not pure entertainment rap either... It's introspective. It's a kind of stream of consciousness. I discovered her with this EP, so my vision of her artistic direction is still hazy, but it's pleasant to listen to.
My Karukerament tracks
KONBYEN - because of the storytelling where she also presents the male point of view in English so the English-speaking audience can understand.
MADA - her love letter to Martinique.
FESTIN - it's a shatta song, but the changes in melody cut through the monotony. Might as well take advantage of shatta's current visibility.
Sodaade - Sa Pa Té Prévu (october 2024)
I fell in love with his artistic universe when he performed at the Loxymore On Stage concert in 2023. “Sa Pa Té Prévu” is a double album. The yellow version was released in 2023. The red version was released in 2024. Magnificent. It’s dark, it’s deep, it’s dignified.
The themes remain conventional: love, life struggles, ego trip. The real originality lies in his 21st-century Creole. His style is somewhere between singing and rapping. His deep voice is carried by melodies combining hip-hop and gwoka. In truth, I hope he goes further in his depiction of love and sexuality because what he offers is promising but still too generic. In any case, his music lets us hear the noblesse of Guadeloupean popular culture.
My Karukerament tracks
Once again, each song has its unique cultural touch, but if I were to pick 3 to connect to an international audience, I’d say...
Freddy Krueger - everyone knows the character. The contrast with the Guadeloupean universe may intrigue an international audience.
Zofi - Caribbean culture can be heard right from the title. A storytelling structure. A modern instrumentation that promotes an ode to determination to succeed in life.
Cocktail (feat. Bilix) - perfect for standing out in a Spanish-speaking market.