“Corey Ledet continues to dig deeper into his musical heritage with his latest release, Médikamen (Nouveau Electric Records).  Recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, LA, and produced by Ledet and Louis Michot, the new album features guest appearances from Germaine Jack, Anders Osbourne, Kermit Ruffins, and Grant Dermody.  Ledet and his core band (Lee Allen Zeno – bass/backing vocals, Lucien “Big Lou” Haynes – rhythm guitar, Julian Primeaux – rhythm/lead guitar, Cecil Green – keyboards, Je’an Paul Jolivette drums/backing vocals) rip through a dozen songs written and performed entirely in Kouri-Vini (a Louisiana Creole dialect of French his family spoke).

Since I don’t speak Kouri-Vini, about all I can do is tell you that the music is fantastic.  Like most zydeco, there are stirring dance numbers and waltzes sprinkled throughout, and like all Ledet’s recordings, there’s a healthy dose of blues and R&B mixed in, as well as jazz and a little bit of rock n’ roll.  It’s a perfect mix of traditional and contemporary that should satisfy any fans of the music.  The opening track, “Alon Kouri Laba,” is a boisterous dance number that should put a hop in your step from the get-go, while “Gònn Lamézon Démin” is a Creole version of Fats Domino’s “Goin’ Home (Tomorrow).”

Osbourne adds a funky guitar riff to “Kofè t’fe ça,” a gutsy zydeco-blues track, and Ruffins’ trumpet helps gives the title track a swinging Crescent City vibe.  “Lavals a Séléstinn” is one of those waltzes that Ledet handles so well, and “M’apé Gònn a Dauphine” and “Mo Gin In Ta Lamou” (written by guitarist Russell Gordon, who played for Ledet’s father and also Rockin’ Dopsie) are both robust blues rockers that Primeaux’s guitar work and Dermody on harmonica.  The lively “Mo Konten To Yê Pou Mò” has a country feel, as “Penden Koronaj,” a rowdy, but brief mostly-instrumental track.

The pace stays upbeat with “Swiv-Mò,” which will get folks out on the dance floor for sure, and “Vayan Fenm” incorporates funk and R&B, thanks largely to the rhythm guitar work from Haynes and Primeaux.  The closer “Two-Step a Ben Guiné,” another fast-paced dance tune, is an excellent track to bring this superb disc to a conclusion.

Corey Ledet’s journey to discover his musical roots has provided him with much insight into his family heritage, but it’s also opened the door for some fresh, exciting music for zydeco fans.  It’s obvious this is a labor of love for Ledet and his band members, and it will be a genuine pleasure for any listeners who give Médikamen  a spin.”

— Graham Clarke/BluesBytes.com