Trankil is a strong release by Alain Marlin, showcasing his fine songwriting. He hails from Martinique and has the great Martiniquan percussionist Dede St. Prix providing solid support on the skins. On bass -- notably the Cameroonian Guy N'Sangue -- and guitar, he has employed Africans to give the album a slightly different twist on zouk. As a result, he has come up with an energetic musical combination that has produced an album that stands as one of his best. He doesn't churn albums out, so releases from Marlin are usually worth the wait. This one doesn't suffer from any limpness or lack of creativity. It is an album that one never tires of listening to. "Dife," "Fonmi," and "Gomie" are particularly strong. "Edwa" is an exquisitely fashioned tango that is a pure joy to dance or listen to. Trankil is made up of finely crafted songwriting, deft guitar work, monster bass, blistering horns, strong backup vocals, and steady percussion. This is one to seek out. Highly recommended.