Jusqu'au Bout Du Monde

Star Feminine Band, the hardest working women in Beninese show business, are releasing their third album on Born Bad. These eight young women had to convince themselves that it was worth a shot, but also their family, their village and an entire continent. Andre Balaguemon, composer, manager and lyricist put the group together, included his three daughters, houses everyone with his wife Edwige who also manages dances and costumes. He gave them a musical training, and created the framework for them to continue school while rehearsing hard. From local heroes to UNICEF ambassadors, the group has made it. The very existence of this new album is a testament to the perseverance of Grace, Anne, Urrice, Benie, Angelique, Sandrine, Julienne and Ashley. The personnel of this family affair has changed a bit: two new women have joined the group, which conquered bigger stages (Glastonbury in the summer, the X-mas BBC special). This album brings simple joys: watching them grow from Benin's first girl band to a band in its own right. And never forgetting why they took to the stage in the first place. Star Feminine Band makes straightforward music, taking no detours to express what's missing in the country. Smoother than the first two albums, supported by fine arrangements, ambitious keyboard parts and more complex vocal harmonies without losing any of their spontaneity, this third opus quietly adds to Benin's musical heritage.