Songs from Madagascar: Lasa

This is the third solo album from Hanitra Ranaivo, former singer with Malagasy group Lolo Sy Ny Tariny. She sings in the Malagasy language (with one track in French), and has a pleasantly melodic, gentle and melancholic voice. The title of the album means ‘To Go’ or ‘To Pass Away’ and also refers to the late Mexican-American singer Lhasa de Sela with whom Hanitra shared a similar musical and philosophical vision. There are similarities in the voices, although Hanitra doesn't quite have the warmth or confidence of Lhasa. This is perhaps partly due to the production, which is slightly cold and hollow.

Hanitra's compositions on this album revolve around women, their stories and their lives – sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful. Themes include same-sex love, maltreatment of wives, nature and the deforestation of Madagascar. Backing instrumentation of guitar, bowed and plucked lute, bass and percussion, all arranged by guitarist and producer Jean-Marc Bontemps, is perfectly in harmony with the vocal performance and gravitas of the songwriting of Hanitra. A fine album of thought-provoking music.