You don’t hear much music from Madagascar, so when something comes up it should catch your attention. From that overlooked country comes Razia Said, who composes some marvelous pieces here and uses a team that mixes and matches Harvey Wirht-dr, Johnny Bass-Michael Olatuja, teta-Charles Kely/g, Samuel Torres-Petit/perc and various other guests and vocalists. The songs have some wondrous harmonies and vocal improvisations that sound almost childlike in their higher tenor sounds. There are lush and romantic flavors as on “Kajio” as well as festive celebrations with horsn on “Nifankahita,” but most of the time you get some wistful guitar licks that lilt in the breeze, as on “Taranaka Afara” and “Ela Izay.” Lots of rustling percussion scrambles around as well, making for attractive rhythms on “Gny Lalangna” and “Zanako.” You won’t understand the lyrics, but the messages of each song are included, and the earnestness oozes out with each verse. Hard not to be drawn to this root of American music.