by Steve Heilig

(Excerpt) Over in Madagascar, equally driving music with some similarity to Congolese guitar lineups is provided by Jaojoby, “the most popular singer” on the island, whose Malagasy (Discorama/Harmonia Mundi) rocks out from the first few notes and rarely lets up.  Jaojoby shouts and sings over a band that seems on the edge of chaos but then catches you up with a stop-on-a-mosquito/bang! start-up worthy of the finest funk band.  In fact, I’ll buy the claim that this guy and his band are the James Brown and the JBs of the Indian Ocean.  The tight horn section only clinches the deal.