Search - Admiral T :: Toucher L'Horizon

Toucher L'Horizon
Admiral T
Toucher L'Horizon
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Admiral T
Title: Toucher L'Horizon
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Universal Import
Release Date: 6/13/2006
Album Type: Import
Genres: International Music, Pop
Styles: Europe, Continental Europe, Reggae
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 602498395646
 

CD Reviews

Very Impressive. . .
Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 11/22/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"And my French isn't even very good. I've known about Admiral T. for about 2-3 years now. The first time I actually encountered was even before then at a concert which I believe was in Canada, but having virtually no idea who he was and speaking even less French that I do now (i.e. none at all) I all but ignored the fast chatting do from Guadeloupe. He had skills definitely and an immense stage presence and absolutely commanded a great deal of attention.



Fast forward a few years and now that I currently split time living in Jamaica and St Maarten (Dutch territory) I've gotten better in touch with the artist as he is amongst the most played reggae artists in the French territory in the north as Guadeloupe is pretty much a hop and skip away. Also, I picked up Wyclef Jean's Welcome to Haiti album a few years back and featured prominently on one of the best tracks on the album, Famn Kreyol was Admiral T; and lastly I've also started paying a great deal of attention to an artist by the name of Sael. Sael, from Martinique, is apparently one of the Admiral's best friends and the two have recorded together and perform together in France (I actually picked up learning French to learn what Sael was saying on his records!)



And although I was quite disappointed to see that none of the tracks on this, his first album to reach the west (and maybe his first altogether) was sans a Sael combination. What is here however is a flow so lethal it had me wishing he would just drop it altogether and go English for just ONE TRACK. I'd actually compare his style to a mixture of yard chatters Idonia and Mr. Peppa (whom Admiral T. actually looks a lot like). Yes Admiral T. pretty much always chats too fast for my ears, but his overall command on the entire album is very very impressive and I definitely plan to keep a closer eye on his career in the future as well.



Probably my favorite track here is Rantre an Dans La. The song features an almost sickening flow by Admiral , as he absolutely LOCKS OFF the riddim and breathes fire through the entire tune. `Rantre' is Exhibit A when I point to a track which I wish had been voiced in English because it amazing.



I'm also quite fond of most of the combinations here, despite Sael being absent . Probably the best combo is with Haitian superpowers Kassav on Fos a Peyi La. The song almost has a soca feel to it, or at the very least an uptempo pure dance, dancehall vibe, but fairly near a soca vibe and I love the changeup when the female takes the mic. And I can never remember a point where I was happier to see TOK EVER! Their combination with Admiral, Wave Your Flag is a big dose of well welcome patois chatting from Bassie right before the Admiral takes it and re-kicks the tempo back into high gear. Another of the fine combinations, Number 1 with Rohff, another chatter (who is far less gifted than the Admiral), does another good changeup as it is a pretty straightforward sounding hip hop vibe.



I also have to mention the title track which is the ONLY one-drop on Toucher L'Horizon. And it set the album off on the right and proper pace, but I wish they had actually waited awhile to mix it in, track #10 would have been nice. And I definitely have to mention Retour au Pays Natal, which has a completely Cuban vibe, sounding like something directly out of Buena Vista Social Club.



If you can't tell my only real critique with Admiral T on Toucher L'Horizon is that the album gets into streaks where the songs almost blend together and you almost forget that you're listening to a new song. With his style, he is usually (and it is a pretty good idea) these huge epochal dancehall sounding riddims which are where his best material does lie, but every change of pace on the album is more than welcome.



Overall, I'm definitely recommending Toucher l'Horizon. it's a big big album! It says a lot about the talent coming out of France and the French Caribbean; Not only Admiral T. and the artists featured on his album, but Sael, the young and controversial artist Krys and Lyricson as well, there is some nice French talent coming up. At the head of the class is Admiral T. so definitely start here!"