Steve LaFleur (a.k.a. Mamou) has become a regular on the Bourbon Street scene and the re-release of this record is well-timed (it was first released in 1996). The disc’s title is well chosen—Mamou Comes to Town is a very appropriate way of describing the fourteen songs featured. The style featured on this recording is one I associate more closely with an urban setting than the rural prairies of Mamou.

Many of the tunes seem to be a fusion of traditional Cajun and Creole music as well as rock and roll and the blues. A country western influence is apparent at times as well. While the first track “Little by Little” has the bluesy edge of Clifton Chenier’s “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale,” for some reason it also reminded me of the Oak Ridge Boys at times. Throughout the record, it is apparent that LaFleur has great vocal ability but many of the songs seems to lack a certain edge and depth.

Nevertheless, the title track is by far the best tune on the record. The tune is danceable and eclectic but seems to retain the strong basis in more traditional Cajun and zydeco sounds that the other tunes lack. LaFleur is joined by several stellar musicians, including Jimmie Thibodeaux on accordion, Adrian Thomas on fiddle and Ernie Cosse, who also produced the record, on bass. The blues-influenced “Leaving” features superb fiddle and according playing that help to enhance, rather than take away from Lafleur’s singing. Overall, the record is memorable for LaFleur’s singing ablility and his willingness to mix a variety of styles. However, at times his experiments with mixing genres are not completely succesful.