This is
Palavire's second album after their initial release, Plezi. Though Plezi has more drive and kick than this album,
Tete a Tete does dig some extended grooves on some cuts. The band's overall sound is similar to
Malavoi's quintessential trademark string arrangements that mixed Cuban charanga with earlier Martiniquan rhythms. In fact, Mano Cesaire was formerly a violinist with
Malavoi.
Palavire adds brass, giving their sound a different twist. The first cut is laced with a Haitian coloration that lends some momentum to it. The zouk here is melodic and mellow -- a little too mellow at times, when not punctuated with some percussion. The track "An Ti Lanmen" provides that French Antillean percussive swing that is hard to resist. "Fatal" is another fine vocal by Rodrigue Marcel with punch in the bassline.
Jean-Paul Pognon, a notable Martiniquan chanteur, provides vocals on two tracks. "La Negrita" is a salsa-fied version of the traditional hymn to Guadeloupean women, "La Guadeloupeenne." The last track, "Ti Sire," has steel drum mixed with gwo ka drumming, the traditional large round drum played between the legs. The album would have benefited from more percussion and drive from the horns. ~ Mark Romano