Bi.Ba - Massavana (Dibyz Music)

The title of the album refers to a Malagasy slave who in 1766 led a slave rebellion aboard the Dutch VOC ship De Meermin, a story Casimir also revisits in the eponymous title track. Kazy recorded 'Massavana' with Spanish producer Roberto Sanchez and his Lone Ark Riddim Force, assuring a virtually irreproachable sound. Of course no Sanchez-production is complete without dubs, so 'Massavana' concludes with four finger licking good versions. On 'Massavana' Kazy alternates between English, French and Malagasy, and even though he's fluent in all three languages, we were most taken with the exoticism exuding from songs like 'Maloka' or 'Ny Mpanjaka' in which Benjamin just sings in his native tongue. Rock-solid roots from a lesser known corner of Africa!