An unsurpassed milestone in European/African fusion, Zazou Bikaye created a head-on collision between traditional Central African vocals and uncompromising analog electronics.
Resulting from a torrid encounter between Congolese singer Bony Bikaye, Algerian-born French composer Hector Zazou and mad scientists CY1, the first album (released under the name Zazou/Bikaye/CY1) was acclaimed by the international music press (who immediately compared it to Byrne & Eno’s ‘Bush Of Ghosts’, or to an imaginary meeting between Fela Kuti and Kraftwerk.), has influenced scores ...
ZAZOU BIKAYE “Nostalgie”
Here is the first track from the upcoming reissue of their ”Mr Manager" album (1985)
With its 'Kraftwerk in Africa' overtones, “Nostalgie” heralds the release of Zazou Bikaye’s “Mr Manager”, a collection of tracks dating from 1985, which will include many previously-unreleased tracks. Stemming from the encounter between Congolese vocalist/composer Bony Bikaye, French musician/producer Hector Zazou and modular synth wizards CY1, Zazou Bikaye made history with their debut, cult album “Noir et Blanc” (1983), a groundbreaking Afro-electronic experiment which has been adulated to this day by generations of music fans and musicians. With “Mr Manager”, their music became less overtly experimental and took on original shades of digital Afrobeat/Afrofunk. “Mr Manager” was a 5-track mini-album. Coming out on Oct 16, the expanded and remastered edition will comprise no less than 14 tracks, to which “Nostalgie” serves as a great introduction.
