Majestik Zouk

Majestik Zouk was Kassav's second release on the Columbia label. The first release on this label, Vini Pou, was ironically one of their weaker efforts. Possibly in reaction to the tepid response to the first album on an American major label, Kassav fired up the zouk machine and came out with this album of strong and varied material. The opening track by Jean-Philippe Marthely burns things up with its high wattage merengue-tinged rhythm. There is also the classic "Ou Le," one of the most popular songs that Kassav ever recorded. It is another one of their well-known anthems, and is French Antillean music at its best, simply melodic and very rhythmic. "Dezodie" is another outstanding track that moves. However, the American music market virtually ignored the album and, although Kassav went on to produce a few more albums on Sony-Columbia, zouk was slow to infiltrate the American music scene. Recommended. (All Music)