Ay Ay Lolo

Menwar hails from Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, a veteran on the local and global scene with his own take on the local sound called sega. His style is irrefutably modern, with a definite debt to the Afro-funk pioneered by Fela Kuti, where each element rocks into the next for a relentless groove. With several percussionists and a guitar and bass combo that could hold its funking own anywhere, he's got a unique sound that's often monochordal — but it works. It might seem raw, but this is a disc that's full of pleasures and deep complexities that only reveal themselves as you listen more. Given that Mauritian funk is about as common as hens' teeth, this is the kind of disc that needs a few listenings in order for you to adjust your mind. But those repeated listenings make it all more than worthwhile.