D

Tarika | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 28, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 12, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Xenophile Records
• ASIN: B00000GV5H
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,047 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #21 in Music > World Music > Africa > Madagascar

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The best thing to come out of Madagascar since the lemur, Tarika this time out are looking on the lighter side with an album of unadulterated dance music. And what dance music! They redo some classic Malagasy 45s from the '70s, bringing rhythms like the salegy and the sigaoma roaring to life, and mix it up with original material that's every bit as strong. Their Son Egal album, with its political edge, saw Tarika really mature as a band; now they're ready to have some fun. The guitar and bass work is jaw-droppingly good, the voices weave a gorgeous tapestry over the beat, and a few Western guests enhance the sound here and there. If you can't dance to this, you're probably already six feet under. --Chris Nickson

Product Description

D by Tarika

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This band continue to amaze with every new release, January 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: D (Audio CD)

The amazing thing about Tarika is that every new record they make is both different from the one before, and full of variety within itself. Compared with say soukous bands, rai bands, mbalax bands who have only a handful of variations on a basic regional style, Tarika always come up with new ideas which nevertheless fit perfectly in their overall style. On this new album they've gone for Malagasy dance styles, but every track is a fresh surprise. Some of this is because they've brought in a few different western instruments (violin, clarinet, harmonica) - all of which I believe are commonly found in Madagascar - and once again they've used a different producer, but it's the range of ideas that is so breathtaking. I particularly like three contrasting tracks: "Mihestika" which is one of the wildest thing's they've ever done, "Raitra" which is a gorgeous ballad and sounds almost Polynesian, and "Retany" which is such a bouncy, catchy opener it ought to be out there as a pop single, but it's all great. Well done Hanitra and the gang, and producer Hijaz too.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not their best by a long shot, March 22, 2006

By 

Frank Camm (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: D (Audio CD)

Characteristic female-led communal vocals and spidery Malagasy strings with a wide range of add-ons that vary across tracks. Curious mix of African, Polynesian, Brazilian, and Portuguese musics that often mix to offer high-spirited party music, but rarely reach the driving dance groove of zouk or disco. More warm and breezy than hot and high-stepping. Political heat arises more often than sexual heat. These dances usually float on the breeze lightly enough to go on forever, cruising in sync with some deep undulating spirit that sustains a warm buzz. CD offers a mix of Tarika originals with what are apparently classic, popular dance tunes from Madagascar. Stand-outs: tr 9-Ditra (original driving dance with a steely core and a cool fiddle-horn bridge). tr 13-Sanadera (original, anthemic social dance whose settings continually morph as it drives on).

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating rhythms, clever arrangements, June 3, 2004

By 

J. TIMMERMAN (Lawson, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: D (Audio CD)

This is the only Tarika album I've heard and I love it. The sound is rich and detailed, the rhythms and arrangements fascinatingly complex and there's lots of joy and energy. The musicians in this band are highly skilled and supremely confident, and there's quite an array of colourful instruments used. They obviously enjoy what they do, and so do I.