In the mid-1980s,
Gazoline became one of the most popular bands in zouk music -- an African style that has enjoyed great popularity in Martinique and Cameroon. Combining the rhythms of the "Gwo Ba" and "Couval Bwa" styles with electric instruments and elements of Western pop and dance music/disco, the band's founder
Pier Rosier did more than his part to popularize zouk. But ironically, it wasn't until
Rosier left Martinique for Paris that he became a star in Africa -- at first, producers in Martinique didn't want to take a chance on his music, and he felt the need to move west in order to make it big. Fans of Latin and Caribbean music may notice that the upbeat, happy and infectious music on
Zouk Obsession bears a slight resemblance to such forms as merengue and calypso. But they'll also notice that zouk has an appealing identity all its own. ~ Alex Henderson