Razia

This album is one of the most moving I have heard in a long while. Razia hails from Madagascar and this album is basically a plea to those who are destroying the environment of that Island by Climate Change and by destroying the rainforest in the name of profit. I’m not going to get into any argument over the right or wrong of the Climate Change argument or to comment on the politics of the area – suffice to say that the lady herself believes totally in what she is singing about and the result is an album of rare beauty and commitment.

The music is complex with strong rhythms and gently played guitars but the main instrument is the accordion which could be a strange choice but simply works here as its fluidity and flexibility give a very different tone to the music. The vocals throughout are wistful and emotive as Razia sings odes to her grandmother – ‘Omama’ – or longing for Madagascar – ‘Yoyoyo’ – or sings nature’s lament on ‘Ny Alantsika’.
The only song in English is ‘Slash And Burn’ and describes seeing the forest being burnt before her. The Sitar used in the song gives a unique feel to the song and the percussion is slightly hypnotic and, coupled with the sad tone to the vocals, the overall tone of the song is very effectively depressed – this is then followed up by ‘Tsy Tara’ which suggests that it is not too late to repair the damage.

The album is hugely listenable to and very effective in focussing on the plight of her nation, I have listened through at least a dozen times simply for the pleasure of the music but reading the cover of the Cd takes you deeply into the music and the the result is one of those rare things; an album that really does work on many levels.