Singer Christine Salem gives the rhythmic, hypnotic maloya music from Réunion a modern sound by adding blues and rock elements. Salem is one of the few women who sings maloya, also during spiritual ceremonies. Her powerful, deep singing voice is as incantatory as it is warming and comforting. She composes and performs her songs from a deeply felt experience, in which the connection with ancestors
… and the invisible world is important. On her seventh album Mersi the electric guitar and violin have been given larger roles. The virtuoso violin playing of composer, arranger and conductor Frédéric Norel is a thread that runs through the songs. The other musicians, Sébastien Martel (electric guitar), Anne-Laure Bourget (percussion) and Jacky Malbrouck (percussion), provide the rest of the accompaniment. Salem usually sings in Creole, but some songs felt better in French and in English. Her message is clear: she's against (domestic) violence and for peace and freedom. (SvdP)more
