Zene't Panon

Tamil rhythms recorded by the river in the lush greenery of eastern R�union. The B-side features reworks by Jako Maron, EMB, Boogzbrown, Aleksand Saya and Loya. Z�ne'T Panon's music is unique even within the musical microcosm of R�union Island. On the eastern coast, the most humid and verdant part of the island, the group imbues their version of maloya (a music genre from R�union Island) with Tamil rhythms and melodies. JuJu Sounds' recording session on the banks of the Rivi�re des Marsouins, deep among the lush vegetation, featured the hypnotic sounds of Tamil instruments: the morlon, tarlon and malbar drums. That lazy day by the river with the entire Z�ne'T Panon family contrasted sharply with the group's explosive energy during their usual recordings. Besides their Tamil influences, the group are distinguished by their creative capacity for new rhythms and the energy that they deploy. The perfect harmony playing out between the musicians meant the material could be recorded outdoors in a single evening with practically no retakes, which was a blessing as a tropical rainstorm broke just minutes after the session ended.This album is not just another nicely packaged world music artefact. Nor is it an academic attempt to archive Afro-Malagasy and Tamil heritage. Firstly, we don't recognise the concept of 'traditional music.' As with all concepts, of course, it serves a purpose. But music cultures have never been something fixed in time and space, something that can describe a permanent identity - on the contrary, they have always been rather fluid. The fixed, permanent trope is the domain of politics and institutional religion. Nowhere can this fluidity be observed better than in Creole cultures worldwide. Already a blend of African, Malagasy, Tamil and European influences, maloya is now in the process of yet another transformation. This album is a bridge between the old-school, instrumental maloya and the thriving electro maloya scene. Played at private kabar� ceremonies by well-respected gramouns, maloya h...