Lataye
Tou Manbre
Dadisound Productions
visit Lataye on myspace
original release notes
and pic from
rockmasters
The music on this disc is about as far from the concept of Vodou (sometimes spelled Voodoo) music, as we have been lead to believe it is played by Hollywood films, as is possible. The rhythms are tempered and augmented by nor only the drums, but also guitar, bass, and most notable by the voice. Some of the vocal refrains are spiritual and at times almost ethereal in sound. This disc is predominately the work of Daniel “Dadi” Beaubrun’ musical vision, and he is aided here by his sister Majorie and Alex and Sheila Tanisma. This disc is a combination and synthesis of the positive and spiritual essence of Haitian Vodou. We have a misconception in the United States of the essence of Vodou, and associate it with Zombies and crazed people that are easily incited to riot, when like all religions there is both a positive and negative side to it. There is here, as in any religion, the artistic, spiritual, and social aspects of Vodou that are both a unifying and positive force, unfortunately all we have been fed by motion pictures is the negative side (just as we are now getting only the negative side of Islam).
“Dadi” is the founder and leader of highly praised and acclaimed Haitian World Music group call Boukman Eksperyans, and this new venture is intended to expand his musical vision by infusing Vodou with rock, pop and blues, even a bit of an Appalachian or Irish sound as on Sayila. This is a strong new statement by this talented and visionary artist, try it and be pleasantly surprised by the graceful beauty found in the rhythmic music on this disc.