#streamcaribbean - albums chronicles from Guadeloupe and Martinique (2024)
Here are short reviews of albums released in 2024 that caught my attention. To read the first reviews compilation, click here. Individual reviews are also available for Riddla, Paille, Meryl, Melody, Ludovic Louis, Olivyah, Matieu White, Maureen, Kevni, Grégory Privat.
Lorenz - Conversations sur l'oreiller (october 2024)
For the past 3 years, Lorenz has been exploring his art. As much as his “ADN” EP won me over, “Lunatiq” left me puzzled. With “Conversations sur l'oreiller” [Pillow Talk], I rediscovered what I like so much about Lorenz: the male emotional intelligence of our times.
It's an EP made for dancing. Guitar solo here, keyboard solo there. Zouk, konpa with a touch of Afro. Enough to test our acrobatic Zouk skills. Beyond the exploration of sounds with a Reunion island touch, I was intrigued by the change in his representation of masculine uncertainty. Expressing the man who is sure of his feelings, the man who knows how to look after his partner, the man who is sometimes awkward but knows what he wants in a relationship, the man who is afraid, with good reason, of a relationship that makes him suffer? Lorenz knows how to do it, and he does it well with “Tout” [Everything].
I think this is the first time I've heard him sing from the POV of a man who wants to be saved from a love for which there are no obstacles... It was a bit disturbing to me because it's a representation I've heard from rappers and dancehaller singers of recent years (I don’t talk about it because it's not the hill I'm ready to die on), but this isn’t something I’ve heard from the Zouk singers I listen to. On the contrary, they sing about the man who wants to love, who wants to be in a relationship and if there's suffering, they want to solve the problem or prefer the break-up... So the fact that Lorenz sings about the fear of loving, right up to the call for help in “Sauve-Moi” [Save Me], or sings about the promise to change in “Chanjé”, without clearly stating the problem justifying his apologizing, only confirms that our generation is really in need of reference points to unravel the complexity of love and redefine our relationship codes... That's why we need Zouk. To make us think about our behavior and bring us clarity.
My Karukerament tracks
XO - for the originality of making a whole song about wanting to kiss your partner and highlighting consent. The guitar solo is lethal. The song made me want to dance!
Je Serai Là [I Will Be There] - for the originality of the theme of man-woman friendship. It's so rare to value a reassuring masculinity. Instead of making TikTok trends about “the West Indian man doesn't cheat”, it would be better to highlight “the West Indian man knows how to respect women”. Why is having the appropriate masculine behavior not glamorous on social media? I don't know.
Guadeloupe - recorded for a Loxymore oneshot. A love letter to Guadeloupe from the point of view of a man dreaming of returning home. It's all the more touching given that, 20 years earlier, Lorenz had released “Péyi (feat. V-Ro)”, on which he sang of the young man who was going through the heartbreak of having left his island for Paris. We need the 3rd instalment where he has indeed returned home. We'll be there.
Keros-N - Grand Cru (october 2024)
A #streamcaribbean discussion is available. I talk at length about what I find good in the album, so I invite you to go and listen. Given that it's the representation of love that is my area of research, I note that he has no problem describing physical intimacy, but he always associates the feeling of love with madness. I find that fascinating.
My Karukerament tracks
Life (feat. Boy Boy) - this is a collaboration with an artist from Trinidad & Tobago. I think their styles go well together.
Joli Bato (feat. Fanswa Ladrezeau) - because of the gwoka sound and the storytelling around the consumer society in Guadeloupe and how we gave up on a healthy way of life.
Kenzy - Once Again (december 2024)
I've been following Kenzy's music releases since 2020. In general, his storytelling in love songs speaks to me. As the years go by, his songwriting becomes more elegant without losing its rawness. I don't know the current dancehall standards, so my opinion is worth what it's worth: I find that Kenzy is the one who best manages to keep the same level of interesting metaphors whether in Creole or French. Musically, his dancehall has a pop edge that should enable him to reach a wide audience.
My Karukerament tracks
Chalè - lively storytelling to tell a love story set against the backdrop of Carnival. I'm the target audience.
Dékouvè - lively storytelling about slices of life showing the darker side of human nature.
Action (feat. Olivyah) - fvckboi stories are my guilty pleasure. Check out my review of Olivyah’s album.
Lycinaïs Jean - Reminder (december 2024)
It was pure fanservice to promote the remix of “Danjé” with Rutshelle Guillaume. I don't know if this collaboration was necessary, given the success of the original version (cf. myth #3 “Caribbean artists need collaborations to shine”). In our #streamcaribbean discussion for the “Mèche Reb'l” album, Lycinaïs Jean had shown that she was clear about the international direction she wanted her career to take. It seems that she has chosen the Caribbean market strategy. It remains to be seen whether she will continue to develop her network... In any case, she has been nominated for the French Caribbean Artist of the Year at the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards. This EP has the merit to make the audience (re)discovering all the facets of her talent. See you on the next studio album.
Danjé (feat. Rutshelle Guillaume) - a collaboration from the French-speaking Caribbean! Guadeloupe/Martinique meets Haiti.
Tonbé Ajounou - always a beautiful love declaration.