Rough Guide to the Music of Madagascar

Settled by Malayo-Polynesians and East Africans, bumped into by Arab, Persian, Chinese and Indian traders and colonised by the Portuguese, the French and the English, Madagascar has a rich and unique cultural tapestry.

The music varies from region to region, but is always recognisably Madagascan, with strange instruments, bright sounds and speedy cyclical rhythms.

Compiled by Malagasy expert Ian Anderson, this CD introduces us to many of these regional treasures with names as twisty as the music - like Ny Sakelidalana, Vilon'Androy and Hazolahy.

Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, has incredible ethnic diversity and rich history. The Rough Guide To The Music Of Madagascar features music across the broad Malagasy spectrum - from the island's spicy dance music to the purest music from the highlands.

Featuring the valiha (a tubular bamboo zither) and lokanga (three-stringed fiddle), among other instruments specific to the island, this album explores the diverse Malagasy culture that has been influenced by Arab, Persian, Chinese, Indian and European societies over the years.

"A long overdue addition to the Rough Guide series. rounds up good choices of tunes from all the names that you'd expect. But as is often the case with the best of these Rough Guides, the real gems are to be found amongst the internationally lesser known artists. There's a good spread of styles too, everything from Teta's rough, hot tsapiky party sounds of the south western Tular region to Ny Sakelidana's old-timey kalon ny fahiny harmonies of the central highlands."
fRoots, UK

Artists include:
Jaojoby, Ny Antsaly, Vakoka, Hazolahy, Toto Mwandjani, Monja, Tarika, Vilon'Androy, Mahaleo, D'Gary, Koezy, Rajery, Teta, Daniel Tombo, Ny Sakelidalana and Régis Gizavo

What they say about NI..