We’re Back Stronger Than Eva is the title of Haitian band T-Vice’s latest album.
One of the album’s grooviest is the “Se Pa Sa” (That Ain’t It), featuring singer-songwriter JPerry. This song sound soooo unlike anything on the album. It’s a party song, and not the type of party that has a dozen people or anything, but a multi-city block party that starts in a small neighborhood and grows. And grows…until the entire world’s population joins in. “Voye Monte”, the second of the album’s three collaborations and featuring singer-rapper PJay, commands attention from its first notes. It’s like this song comes accompanied with some extra fire.
T-Vice is all about having a good time, but there are emotional moments such as on the song “Moving On”. A relationship comes tumbling, a child is involved, and three lives are infinitely altered. “Moving On” divulges a torn man’s innermost feelings. The track is about a man’s hurt that’s pummeling him to shreds, and the irreversible pain that comes with a life change as major as a devastating divorce. For all the sorrow conveyed in “Moving On”, at its core is resignation and acceptance.
I liked “Eske” (Will You?) as a companion song to “Moving On”. “Eske” is about picking up the pieces after the terrible emotional loss conveyed in “Moving On”. “Eske” asks opportune questions, “Can one’s heart be put at risk? Is it worth it to dip in again in this thing called love?”—especially when one estimates that previous damage hasn’t quite yet been satisfactorily mitigated. There are some really ingenious guitar work from guitarist Berto on this track.
“Konfli” maneuvers Nou Tounen Pi Fò from love to social problems. Call it the album’s Haiti song. T-Vice calls for unity, progression, and for an end to ratchetness. “Ou Ou Poko Flannè” (You’re Not A Player Yet) competes with “Se Pa Sa” in terms of being the album’s most dance-friendly track. It’s not as boisterous though. “Se Pa Sa” has this roots/world music sound to it that “Ou Poko Flannè” lacks. But on the other hand, there’s this mellifluousness in “Ou Poko Flannè” that “Se Pa Sa” shuns.
“This Time 4 Real” is about a man who’s declaring his forever love to a woman. Does this mean the scars mentioned in “Eske” have fully been operated on? And, should it be understood that at this point the “Moving On” process has come full circle? “This Time 4 Real” casts aside fears and welcomes new beginnings in the love arena. But those same fears and insecurities are revived in “J’en Ai Marre” (I’m Fed Up), a track with 5Lan. The narrator has a laundry list of complaints against his pressure-imposing, insecure, jealousy-and-resentment-prone girlfriend. She’s constantly having things whispered in her ears, and she’s quick to believe them all.
This band has two lead singers and they both bring their own flavor to Nou Tounen Pi Fò, and T-Vice seems to know how to bring the best out of the both of them. In the song “Ou Renmen Sa”, for instance, the candy-coated voice of singer Regi will bring a smile to the lips of the most callous-hearted woman. The same can be said of the sweet ballad “Eske”. On songs like “Se Pa Sa”, “Voye Monte”, “”J’en Ai Marre” co-lead singer Roberto Martino will impel the biggest kored, the biggest party-pooper, to the dance floor.
CLICK HERE to read more about this band! CLICK HERE to follow this band on Instagram and see when they’re playing near you!| CLICK HERE to buy the T’Vice album! Let’s show support to these Haitian bands and artists. Hurray!
