Haiti Vodou: 1937-1962 Folk Trance Possession

Following Frémeaux's 2013 two-CD compilation Jamaica Folk Trance Possession, comes this set of mostly field recordings from Haiti. But where the earlier included some filler tracks, this Haiti compendium is full to bursting with authentic folk-roots material, including dozens of undiluted, raw West African percussive rhythms and varied vocals ranging from twee folk vignettes to charged invocations, ‘spirit conversations’, and prayers to Shango. Voodoo, or vodou in Haiti, was carried almost intact on the African slavery boats, then survived a relatively short but certainly brutal colonial period, to centrally feature in Haitian culture after liberation in 1804. As demonstrated by the fierce, mesmeric rhythms and vocals of Haitian ensemble Chouk Bwa Libète (who play their first gigs in the UK this summer), this potent music, dance and religious mélange is proudly alive and kicking hard today.

The three CDs are presented chronologically, from the mid-1930s up to the early 60s. Despite the clear improvement in sound quality and vividness from the first to the third, it is the first CD that excels: the ethereal female vocal on the 1936 Lomax recording ‘Ayizan Belekounde’; the dream-like wisps of the bamboo pipe (vaccine) on ‘Vaccines’ and the assertive, beguiling ‘Spirit Conversation’ by an anonymous priest. Anthropological and niche, yes. But relevant to now? Most certainly.