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Title: Difficult to listen to . . .
Review: Not for the faint of heart, this album had a jarring effect on me the first time I heard it. Each song blends into the next and the overall grating impression is of plunked strings which underscore monotonous wailing in Malagasy. The melodies are repetitive and not likely to have wide cross-over appeal to Western listeners. I would like to say that I have a gained a greater appreciation for Sakalava music since I moved to Madagascar, but these chants still get on my last nerve. The one halfway catchy tune, accompanied by clapping, is track #4 "E ly e." The musical bow featured on several tracks is also intriguing -- particularly because it is not cluttered by the tuneless wailing which characterizes the other songs. Ditto for the flutes and lutes. If you do buy this CD, listen for and enjoy the traditional instruments, but I have to say I'm glad this is not all Madagascar has to offer.
