D'Gary - Akata Meso

Madagascar's D'gary has long been hailed as one of the world's greatest guitar players, but in Akata Meso he's made an album to convince even the loudest naysayers. While rooted in Malagasy music (which is to say a melting pot of influences), what emerges is a very strong individual style, evident from the very first licks of "Very Ny Bado." He sings, but it's impossible not to feel that vocals are just a little window dressing, as the playing is the highlight here, relentlessly inventive, with the kind of fleet fingers so rarely heard nowadays (as on "Bobo-Drano," where just tabla backs up the sound). Read More