There was not yet a really good compilation album with Surinamese pop music. Okay, Vic van de Reijt released a CD with 'Surinamese' songs where you always had to skip the Belgian songs to get to the really cool pokoe's. Anyway, now there is Sranan Gowtu ('Surinamese gold') on Topnotch, compiled by label boss Kees de Koning and Edgar 'Trafassi' Burgos. The selected songs are arranged chronologically.
The journey thus begins in 1950 with the cheerful Caribbean big band music of Max Woiski Sr and of course takes you past Lieve Hugo, Trafassi and The Twinkle Stars by Oscar Harris. The most beautiful gems are the unknown songs, such as the naughty White Girl from The Mighty Botai or the contribution of De Surinaamse Vrolijk Jeugd, undoubtedly the most funky children's choir on this planet. This makes it a varied trip with not only kaseko, but also trips to soul and reggae. Too bad that no booklet with interviews has been added. It would have been nice to read how these great artists looked back on their own music. (PdK)more