Zulu Rock

• Artist: Lizzy Mercier Descloux
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1984
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

Originally released in France as Mais où Sont Passées les Gazelles back in 1984, Zulu Rock is the re-release of Lizzy Mercier Descloux's third and, for many, best album, with a variety of alternate tracks -- sung in French, often with different titles from the originals -- added to the reissue. Some years before Paul Simon scored both attention and protest for his Graceland album, Mercier Descloux had arguably not only beaten him to the punch but had created a more exuberant and fascinating record -- Simon's studied ruminations can have their place, but Mercier Descloux, simply put, actually sounds like she's having fun. A quote from ZE Records' Michel Esteban -- "this South African music reminded us, as incredible as it may sound, of the Velvet Underground" -- sums up how easily Zulu Rock's blend comes together, rejecting exoticism in favor of kinship and play. The immediate, instant swing of the opening "It's All My Imagination" -- which itself recalls Mercier Descloux's unfulfilled dream of wanting to bring her South African collaborators to Louisiana for a Cajun collaboration -- sets the tone for the album beautifully. From there, Mercier Descloux and company are off to the races, with the familiar, sweet tone of highlife guitar, the loping, energetic bass and beats, and the dramatic, beautiful backing vocals filling the mix in a hyperactive but never totally chaotic overdrive. Hearing Mercier Descloux's lovely voice sweetly moving through the words of "Abyssinia," the brilliantly titled "Dolby Sisters Saliva Brothers," and "Queen of Overdub Kisses" is just flat-out marvelous. "Mais où Sont Passées les Gazelles?," a French hit single, captures the overall blend in excelsis, but no less notable is the strutting beauty of "L'Eclipse," the pure boulevardier swing of "Les Dents de L'Amour," or "Wakwazulu Kwezizulu Rock," with a descending horn part in the chorus to die for. Perhaps only labelmate Kid Creole could have come up with something so unique as this at the time, so embracing and full of life. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
It's All My Imagination	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:32)
Abyssinia	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:01)
Mais où Sont Passées les Gazelles?	Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Obed Ngobeni	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:33)
Dolby Sisters Saliva Brothers	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(2:42)
L' Éclipse	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:24)
Les Dents de l'Amour	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(2:19)
Wakwazulu Kwezizulu Rock	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(2:41)
Momo on My Mind	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:10)
I'm Liquor	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:04)
Queen of Overdub Kisses	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:38)
Sun Jive	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(2:48)
All the Same	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(4:52)
Pénélope [French Version][*]	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:29)
Confidente de la Nuit [French Version][*]	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:02)
Cri [French Version][*]	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(3:24)
Tous Pareils [French Version][*]	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(5:00)
Wakwazulu Kwezizulu Rock [French Version][*]	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	Lizzy Mercier Descloux	(2:58)

Credits

Thomas Phale (Saxophone), David Snell (Harp), Adam Kidron (Producer), John Galanakis (Music Coordinator), Henry Krein (Accordion), Ross McFarlane (Performer), Michel Esteban (Producer), Michel Esteban (Liner Notes), Michel Esteban (Executive Producer), Michel Esteban (Artwork), Michel Esteban (Associate Producer), Michel Esteban (Reissue Producer), Michel Esteban (Design), Michel Esteban (Photography), Michel Esteban (Cover Art), Michel Esteban (Reissue Selection), Charlus DelaSalle (Digital Remastering)