Breaking the thermometer

"With Breaking the Thermometer, Leyla McCalla explores identity, freedom, and joy through Haitian music and culture. It's a reminder of the album as a statement".

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"The pieces are mostly sung in creole, though there are English-language pieces such as Caetano Veloso's Brazilian song of exile "You Don't Know Me". McCalla's vocal style remains relaxed, but set against simple backings that ally her cello and banjo playing with sophisticated percussion, she conjures moods of abjection ("Fort Dimanche" concerns a notorious prison), protest ("We are the ones who bake the bread and get burnt at the oven," complains "Dodinin") and longing ("Boukman's Prayer"). An ambitious, accomplished piece of work".

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"Inspired by Haitian insurgence, a cellist finds a rebellious new folk ... Though the project is steeped in timely questions of democracy and righteousness, McCalla supplies an unexpected tenderness even to songs about political prisoners. An exquisite distillation of hope and perseverance, mystery and humanity".