Haitian Beatz

01-Map Boure (Do Da Slam Dunk) | 5m15s

If the horrible sampled horns and Ti Ansito’s drab singing don’t discourage you within the first two minutes, consider yourself a very forgiving listener. If you don’t think you’ve heard enough cliché synth solos in your lifetime, then the rest of this track will be right up your alley. If this CD ever find its way in my player again, this is one tune I will happily skip.

02- Avwe | 5m01s

From the attention grabbing intro, catchy melody, smartly written lyrics, to clean guitar grooves, this track has quite a lot going for it. That’s why it pains me so much to hear it get mercilessly crucified with a bad keyboard generated brass section. Imagine the feeling you get as you watch a nurse plunge a syringe into your arm. That’s how I feel every time I hear these “horns” kick in. Fèmen jé’w, séré dan’w!

03- Oui Ou Non | 5m38s

How to sabotage a song in four easy steps: 1. Mix in the stupid Auto-Tune vocal effect that’s been done to death in every genre on Planet Earth. 2. Pour in fake saxophone to set us back two decades. 3. Sprinkle ample amount of cheesy keyboard solos. After all, it wouldn’t be Konpa otherwise, would it? 4. Drop in some Roberto Martino guitar licks which I’m sure we haven’t heard enough of on his own band’s records. There you have it!

04- Cheri M Geri | 5m33s

Although I’ll never be caught singing it, this piece is nicely put together. The guitars are splendid, especially the acoustic in the beginning; the outro [only Ti Joe and piano] is equally outstanding. And, thank goodness, there are no faux horns here. I was under the impression that Haitians no longer sang “zobodow” on their tunes. Apparently Ti Joe has not yet been cured of that particular disease.