Eugene Mona and Max Ransay - Tambours de Martinique

For its seventh offering, Sol Power Sound taps into the pulse of the French Antilles for Tambours de Martinique, a blistering EP of original and remixed versions of rare, drum-centric dance floor workouts. Licensed directly from the legendary Martiniquan label Hibiscus Records, the EP features cuts by Eugène Mona and Max Ransay, two of Martinique's most storied musicians. With reworks by Spanish DJ and producer Kiko Navarro and the Sol Power All-Stars, this one will be in the record bags of discerning DJs all summer long.

The A side features 'Lizo' by Eugène Mona, an essential figure in the folkloric music of Martinique based on the bamboo flute, bèlè drums, and the island's specific variant of Antillean creole. Lizo was originally released in 1990 on Mona's Blanc Mangé Blan Manjé? LP and is anchored by frenetic percussion, a driving bassline, and house-evocative key stabs. Mona's flute kicks off the tune which then jumps right into a call-and response vocal barrage. In the lyrics, Mona warns a local political figure to watch his back because he's surrounded by an untrustworthy crew. Kiko Navarro's remix takes an already dynamic cut to deep Afro-space with thumping drums and a bubbling synth-bass groove that will put dancers through their paces.

With its powerful combo of urgent brass and ensemble vocals, Max Ransay's 1988 recording of the traditional Martiniquan folk song 'Ti Kanno' fills the B-side. 'Ti Kanno' was previously recorded by Ti Émile, Ransay and Mona's legendary forebear. Full of surprises, Ransay's version is a sonic melting pot of hand percussion, horns, unexpected synth lines, and bass. The Sol Power All-Stars edit fills out the low-end thump and teases out the groove for maximum impact.


Press:
PREMIERE 2 - LIZO KIKO NAVARO - BOLTING BITS 13TH JUNE
PREMIERE 1 - A1 LIZO ORIGINAL - DREAM CHIMNEY 12th JUNE
PREMIERE 3 - B1 TI KANNO ORIGINAL - LE VISITEUR 14th
PREMIERE 4 - TI KANNO SOL POWER - LES YEUX ORANGE 8TH JUNE
ARTIST FEATURE - 10 QUESTIONS - ECLECTICS
ARTIST FEATURE - LE VISITEUR - TOP 10 WORLD MUSIC CLUB SHAKERS 8th JUNE
REVEW - HALF LIGHTS

GILLES PETERSON
Yes I'm into this

LEFTO
First song is really nice although it starts really weird… after the flutes and the guy chat it goes like BANG!

CEDRIC WOO/ BEAUTY AND THE BEAT
This would be right up my street indeed.

DETROIT SWINDLE
Well you've guessed it, they love this one too.
Maarten said: "Great record. lovely varied vibe on both sides!"

JIMPSTER / FREERANCE / DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
This is sounding ace! I reckon it's the Sol Power remix that'll work the floor for me.

JUSTIN ROBERTSON
YES love this release. Will play it on Temple Of Wonders next week. Ti Kano is magnificent.

JACQUES RENAULT / WE PLAY HOUSE
Sounding cool, I like the edits a bit more than the OGs just cuz I can use em a little more.

DJ DEEP
Very very nice indeed. I like the orginals.

AROOP LE ROY
Great selection of original tunes. The Kiko Navaro edit is particularly strong. His subtle production style blends very well with the original track.

LAURENT GARNIER / MEUH RADIO / WWFM
Ohhh Whaouuuuuuu , This is MaSSIVE. I neeeeeed to play this on my radio show
PETE BUCKENHAM / ON THE CORNER RECORDS - This will be in my record box long after summer. 1 and 4 FIRE . WWFM on 18th April for sure will play.

BEN DAVIS / FLASH ATKINS / PAPER RECORDINGS
Yeps, this is right up my street. Kiko's mix is spot on too.

FRANK TOPE / DJ HISTORY
This is HOT HOT HOT The original of Lizo is amazing - absolutely ferocious.
Best track for my personal disc jockey foibles is the Sol Power re-edit of Ti Kanno, but the whole EP is tropical FIRE. .5 bottles of jalapeno sauce out of 5




FISH GO DEEP
Killer ep love the original of ti kanno and the Kiko remix of lizo will play on the radio show , can't wait to play the lizo remix on a big system thumbs up from me .

OSUNLADE/ YOROUBA SOUL
Love love Kiko's mix!

KRISTIAN RADLE / INNERVISIONS
Me like me like.

SOUL CLAP ELI
Oh yeah! Love this one. Sol Power on fire. Originals are beautiful and those remixes are funny work those feet

IGOR/ SONICA IBIZA
Would be happy to put ths on rotation here at Sonica.

PIOTR ORLUV / NPR
Totally dig the originals and the Sol Power All Stars mix.

DOMENIC CAPPELLO / SUB CLUB
There's kind of been an overload of afro re-releases over the past year or so and when I saw this I thought here we go again but its actually really good . Love both the original tracks

HORSE MEAT DISCO / SEVERINO
Oh I love it I I need it.

RICK BENJAMIN / BONDI RADIO
Hey lovin this sound.

FREDDY GARCIA /SANCHO PANZA
Wahou, this is very hot track afro tropical for this summer ! This has a lot of Freddy love!

LOGAN FISHER/ HAULES BAULES
Wow, absolutely love this. An afro cracker. Both the edits will kill the dancefloor.

HARRI HARRIGAN / SUB CLUB
I am into the originals here.

WILLIE GRAFF/ PACHA IBIZA
Big fan of the Sol Power releases.I played the Bosq remix ep all last summer to great response.Good energy tunes!Happy to see my brother Kiko doing a remix this time around,he injected a great afroterraneo feel to the song.I would love to play try this one out.The Sol Power Allstars Edit is also very very nice!

DAMIAN CHARLES POINT BLANK FM
One for the show shazza send it over.

FAZE ACTION/ ROBIN LEE
It's hot outside my window. Good job that there is a cooling breeze coming off the sea. I'm also glad that I can hear the strains of Sol Power Sounds - Tambours de Martinique off in the distance. Makes me want to hurry the f*ck up and get to where that sound is coming from as quickly as possible. Somehow I imagine clambering over rocky outcrops and sprinting up sandy dunes and when you finally arrive, you are in tropical disco and festive heaven. Impossible to choose a favourite but I know I will be reaching for Ti Kanno (Sol Power All Stars Edit)

TIM KEENOY / THE DATE
What a cracking EP. Loved the Bosq and Poly Rthymo last year and now this. Absultely superb dancefloor heat!

MARK HUME
Am a fan of this sound. Will play for sure on Soho Radio and Netil.

CHRIS DUCKENFIELD/ ALL EARS
I Love the B side.

ASHLEY BEEDLE / BLACK SCIENCE ORCHESTRE
Absolutely rocking tracks with my fave being Ti Kanno. Definitely hot for the summer (all year round in fact!) Would love to play and support.

JIM ANGEL / SANCHO PANZA
What a collection of driving beauty….. that is multi coloured hi definition music!
Loving it all but 2 and 4 will be released onto any dance floor I'm involved in…..

LAST WALTZ
This is great! I love all mixes especially the Kiko Navarro mix.

DR ROB / BAN BAN TON TON
The Max Ransay track (OG) on here will be huge with all the new Zouk heads. BIG.

KATIE BARBER / ADVERNTURES IN PARADISE
Thanks for sending Sharon, this is ace. Proper party track the Mx Ransay Ti Kanno Sol Power remix


IAN BLEVINS / ESP INSTITUTE
Cracking EP Love to play it!


ANDY SIMMS / SOFT ROCKS
Love this EP just like the one before. Really into Sol Power!

STEVE MILLER
Lovely afro beats. Radio for sure.