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I know. I never heard of this King Selewa guy before either. But with the arrival of Calypso Invasion in my household, the fact of his existence and of his melodic gifts are now well established, never to be questioned. The albums liner notes (which, happily, the ARC label always uses to establish proper context and assign full credits) draw our attention to King Selewas rich musical background: born and raised in Africa; later a member of a band that played calypso, ska and reggae around Europe; finally leader of his own band dedicated to the music of Trinidad. And fortunately for all of us who wish to listen, proof of those influences abound practically anywhere your laser beam may settle on this generously endowed disc. First we have the brisk but looping rhythms of the title track itself. Next comes the bright calypso brass of Osine o Dé with a strong hint of ska in the rhythm. Mami Watta is a gentle reggae-flavoured and African-textured delight; that approach then extends into the following track and its return-to-Africa lyrics. Jumbie Jamboree initially seduces us with a slow intro but soon explodes into a joyous calypso romp. Were now a third of the way through the album, and the stage for the rest has been truly set. Its a setting where the loose arrangement and relaxed nyahbinghi-inspired drumming of Congo Bara can give way effortlessly to a lovely acoustic guitar ballad, which in turn can yield to the lightly galomping beat of Down da Road. Its therefore no real surprise late in the album when the satirical Exploiting ends with a slow, exquisite Latin arrangement. The influences are as the liner notes claim, but what they didnt mention is how well those elements are balanced and how inspired the songwriting is. With only a few exceptions, these songs were either written or arranged by King Selewa, so it seems that the highly melodic sense that pervades the album is pretty much his. Not that he acted alone by any means; the wide open musical sensibilities and crisp production are also key elements, so a number of other folks can take some credit too. And I have to mention the nicely complementary backup vocals by Mina, who sounds like an ingenuous little girl. There. That should help explain who this King Selewa guy is. Hes the main force behind the boisterous spirit, infectious tunes, swooping lead vocals and propulsive Caribbean/African rhythms of Calypso Invasion. Now you know. Ted Boothroyd www.JahWorks.org