The Tenth Case of the Pirates' Radio of the Caribbean

Dust off your saddles, listeners... there's a new pony in the Adventures of Encyclopedia Sound stable!

Lately I have found myself unexpectedly charmed by music from hitherto ignored ports in the Caribbean... particularly Haiti, Guadaloupe, and Martinique. 

The music scenes here share the same influences found throughout the Caribbean: merengue, calypso, cumbia, lambada, and all the various genres born in Cuba. But these island cultures also share a close association with France (Guadaloupe and Martinique remain French "overseas departments"). This association with France has brought unique musical influences to these cultures, including "chanson" ballads as well as the sounds of former French and Belgian colonies in Africa. In 1967 the Congolese group Ry-Co Jazz relocated to Martinique for a decade, further broadening the range of influences available to local musicians. These influences gave rise to unique musical styles such as biguine, gwo ka, and cadence.

Since these cultures do not speak Spanish, the current scenes have generally resisted the wave of Salsa popularity that has engulfed so many of their neighbors; instead, they prefer tropical dancefloor sounds such as zouk and compas. These sounds are often described as a part of a "creole" musical culture that spans the traditional Atlantic shipping lanes, from Cape Verde through the Caribbean.

Today we will hear a selection of Caribbean music mostly pulled from Haiti, Guadaloupe, and Martinique. This set list stays in the pocket with musical styles that are uniquely popular in the parts of the Caribbean without Spanish language. Music today stretching from the mid-60s to the early 80s. 

...and free pony rides!!!