Son Egal

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Son Egal
Studio album by
Tarika
Released1997
LabelXenophile[1]
ProducerSimon Emmerson, Martin Russell
Tarika chronology
Bibiango
(1994) 		Son Egal
(1997) 		D
(1999)

Son Egal is the second album by the Malagasy band Tarika, released in 1997.[2][3] It was the band's first widely distributed album.[4] Tarika promoted it with a two-month North American tour.[5] Son Egal was a hit in Madagascar, as well as on American and European world music charts.[6][7]

Sonegaly is the Malagasy word for Senegal.[8] The title is also French for equal sound.[9]

Production[edit]

Son Egal was produced by Simon Emmerson and Martin Russell.[10] It is a loose concept album about the Malagasy Uprising—where French colonists used Senegalese (and other African) forces to violently put down an uprising—that began 50 years prior to the album's release.[1][3][11] Tarika worked with Senegalese musicians, some from Baaba Maal's band.[12][13] Prior to recording the album, Hanitra, the band's frontwoman, spent time listening to Malagasy survivors of the violence; many survivors of torture were eager for rectification and understanding.[14][15] Hanitra wanted to improve relations with Senegal by acknowledging that the French colonial-trained forces were made up of soldiers from many African nations.[16] The band used valihas, koras, and tamas on the album; several songs employed the harmonies of sisters Hanitra and Noro.[17][18][19]

Many songs criticize the Malagasy politics of the 1990s, as well as global perceptions of Madagascar.[13][20] "Avelo" alludes to the problem of grave robbing in Madagascar.[17] "Diso Be" references the 1947 uprising and the 1897 exile of Queen Ranavalona III.[21] "Aza Misy Miteniteny" was written by revolutionary students of the 1970s.[22]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[23]
Dayton Daily News[24]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[25]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[10]

Robert Christgau liked the album but debated whether its sound was "chirpy or ebullient."[26] The Washington Post deemed it "a high-energy Afro-pop outing."[27] The Guardian considered Son Egal "a typically exuberant dance set but also a brave and original political diatribe which contrasts the island's colonial past with modern-day racism and corruption."[14]

SF Weekly called the album "a vibrant, sweeping condemnation of the political corruption eating away at the island of Madagascar."[28] JazzTimes labeled it "political music with a seductive pulse and surface, a fascinating project," writing that "the group masterfully blends indigenous Malagassy music with modern notions, and in this case, arranges a collaboration with Senegalese musicians."[12] The Dayton Daily News praised the "soaring harmonies [and] speed-plucking guitar work."[24]

AllMusic wrote that, "like other Tarika efforts, Son Egal has a strong sociopolitical bent ... it's clear that Tarika is a melodic powerhouse."[23]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Tsy Kivy" 
2."Avelo" 
3."Voandalana" 
4."Zotra" 
5."Sonegaly" 
6."Rafrancois" 
7."Vavaka" 
8."Ady" 
9."Sento" 
10."Raha Tiany" 
11."Forever" 
12."Diso Be" 
13."Aza Misy Miteniteny" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Schurman, Dewey (May–Jun 1997). "Soundwaves...". Islands. Vol. 17, no. 3. pp. 36–37.
  2. ^ "Tarika Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  3. ^ a b The Rough Guide to Madagascar. Rough Guides UK. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Tune in on Times". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. 10 Jan 1997. p. 16.
  5. ^ Tayler, Letta (18 Mar 1997). "Folk's Different Strokes at LI Festival". Newsday. p. B9.
  6. ^ Dunn, Michael (April 5, 1997). "Tarika bangs out Afro beat for message-laden songs". Baylife. The Tampa Tribune. p. 5.
  7. ^ Canning, Michael (4 Apr 1997). "Tarika in concert". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2T.
  8. ^ Sharp, Lesley A. (September 3, 2002). The Sacrificed Generation: Youth, History, and the Colonized Mind in Madagascar. University of California Press. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Tarika". All Things Considered. NPR. Jan 27, 1997.
  10. ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 757–758.
  11. ^ Marcus, Dan (Mar 1997). "Also recommended". World Trade. 10 (3): 33.
  12. ^ a b Woodard, Josef. "Tarika: Son Egal". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  13. ^ a b Williamson, Nigel (Jan 18, 1997). "Global music pulse". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. p. 47.
  14. ^ a b Denselow, Robin (10 Jan 1997). "The colour of fear". Friday. The Guardian. p. 14.
  15. ^ Edwards, Mark (January 5, 1997). "Rock – On Record". Features. The Sunday Times. p. 28.
  16. ^ Cummings-Yeates, Rosalind (March 28, 1997). "History inspires sounds of Tarika". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 4.
  17. ^ a b Gill, Andy (10 Jan 1997). "Tarika Son Egal". Pop. The Independent. p. 13.
  18. ^ Eng, Monica (21 Mar 1997). "Tarika Son Egal". Friday. Chicago Tribune.
  19. ^ Blake, Joe (1 Mar 1997). "Son Egal Tarika". News. Times Colonist. p. 1.
  20. ^ Burtman, Bob (April 17, 1997). "African Electric". Music. Houston Press.
  21. ^ Vanderknyff, Rick (9 Apr 1997). "Making Music, Not War". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  22. ^ Nopper, Sheila (Fall 1997). "Tarika Son Egal". Herizons. Vol. 11, no. 4. p. 43.
  23. ^ a b "Tarika Son Egal". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  24. ^ a b Rollins, Ron (14 Mar 1997). "Recordings in Brief". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 19.
  25. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. pp. 45–46.
  26. ^ "Tarika Sammy". Robert Christgau. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  27. ^ "Tarika Sammy: Exotic 'Skies'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  28. ^ "The House of Tudor". SF Weekly. April 9, 1997. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
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