Madjafalao

"In French, Tout-Puissant means "all-powerful", and if there's one thing Le Orchestre is in any incarnation, it's that: bright, unstoppable, full of heat and love. After years of lighting up the night, on Madjafalao, the group finally lets the sunshine in, and it shines brightly on ten healing tracks that encompass vast swaths of West Africa and serve as a good reminder that there is still sweetness in the world today".

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"It's almost surprising to find that the event which separates Madjafalao from the group's last record, 2011's Cotonou Club, is the death of singer/guitarist and founding member Mélomé Clément. To the ears, at least, that hasn't seemed to slow Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou one jot. An invaluable antidote to our bleak European midwinter, Madjafalao has warmth and joy in spades".

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"Benin's voodoo kings approach their 50th year in fine form ... With arch digger Florent Mazzoleni in the producer's chair, long-term members Loko Pierre, Gustave Bentho and Vincent Ahehehinnou have decided to carry on. The latter's presence, in particular, means you barely notice the join: his JB-like grunts are still on the money and those voodoo-rhythms simply don't age. Highlights are many, but "Africa Lonlon" is reason enough to hope they keep on keeping on".