“5ieme Vitesse” serves up a mix of socially conscious tunes, love ballads, and high-energy tracks, ensuring there’s something for every taste. Despite frequent changes in lead vocalists over the years, Kenny Desmangles successfully introduces a unique vocal style without mimicking his predecessors. However, compared to his performances with New York All Stars and 509, Kenny’s approach on this album feels overly cautious, as if he’s restrained from fully expressing himself.
While the standout tracks for me were “Mwen Pap Tounen (K’anyway),” “Fok Sa Chanje,” and “Fos Desten,” the album overall didn’t leave a strong impression. Kenny shines on “Peye Bill,” “5ieme Vitesse,” and “Jere Sexy’w,” while the duet “Mizikanou,” performed by Richie and Roserbie Theoc, offers a pleasing musical arrangement. Although Nicolina’s saxophone skills are notable, Richie’s vocal performance seemed lackluster. Nevertheless, “Mizikanou” had me replaying the track just to enjoy Nicolina’s saxophone.
If I were to predict which songs from this album have hit potential, I’d choose “Jere Sexy’w,” “Mwen Pap Tounen,” and “Fos Deten.” Although “5ieme Vitesse” may not be Zenglen’s finest work—particularly when compared to albums like “An nou Alez” and “Easy Konpa”—it should not be dismissed. Zenglen still shows significant promise, but to sustain this album’s relevance beyond a year, they might need to enhance their live performances, especially with tracks like “Jere Sexy’w.”
