"This two-CD release from prolific and eclectic French label Frémeaux & Associés contains much which is available elsewhere, but is compiled here in a well thought-out, roughly chronological order. The album opens with the first commercial recordings from superb accordeonist Amedé Ardoin, with Dennis McGee on fiddle, including the astonishing One Step d'Oberlin - an object lesson in improvised one-chord hypnotic blues, and two later solo tracks that have been rather nicely sonically restored ... Disc one finishes with four tracks from Fremont and Bee Fontenot, brothers recorded at home in 1972 playing spellbinding old French dances and bluesy songs learned early in the century which testify to old forms of Afro-Louisianan expression never commercially recorded ... Disc two deals mainly with the development of zydeco into a more urban style, through early studio recordings of Clarence Garlow, Boozoo Chavis and of course Clifton Chenier ... The first commercial zydeco recordishere too, featuring Lightnin' Hopkins on the organ! ... Anyone looking for a better introduction to black creole music in SW Louisiana, or indeed a reminder of the scope and variety of the music, should look no further than this. An absolute joy".
