Serving as a wonderful extension of his Oioji Records debut from back in 2024, Rickysoul The C3PO presents the second volume of his (hopefully) ongoing Elektronik Révolisyon series providing a more detailed vision for the planned scope of the project and its own over-arching potential.
With Volume 1 - 'Gwokhouse' - presenting a fascinating depiction of the DJ, producer and bassist's affections for house music intertwined with his affections for Caribbean Gwo Ka percussion, Volume 2 extends the concept to incorporate something of an ode to Zouk music as another facet to the musical lineage of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Pioneered as a musical style in the early-1980s, Zouk (and its subsequent offshoot genres including Zouk-love, Zouk hard and Zouk béton) was born of French Antillean dance music styles which were defined by their fast tempo and percussive-driven rhythms.
With so many Oioji Records releases depicting deeply personal journeys in a bid to explore or establish one's identity through music, Rickysoul excitingly presents a musical collage of colour and notably sound that acknowledges his profound adoration for Martinique's roots and history. Ingeniously, however, through the DJ's own penchant for house music and nightlife, Rickysoul manages to create projects that carve ahead towards an unbeaten path.
As founder of the House An Nou sessions and club nights, Rickysoul's explorations have taken many forms over the years but there's something about this new Elektronik Révolisyon series that enables the DJ to vividly paint his own mosaic that draws affectionately from the past and looks boldly towards the future.
Across the project's five tracks, 'Acid Zouk' offers up a selection of innovative and immersive soundscapes that place listeners firmly on an Oioji Records / House An Nou dance floor. Through multi-layered compositions, Rickysoul presents a phenomenal ode to Zouk music that beautifully fuses traces of deep and progressive house within its multitude of textures and sounds.
With each track showcasing its own sublime narrative, the gem of the lot may very well be within the EP's closing number 'Woy...Jocelyne !' which demonstrates a warm and intimate aesthetic that is as meditative as it is spirited.
Through 'Acid Zouk', Rickysoul continues to successfully honour in this case the cultural legacy of the French Antilles while continuing to perceive the genre within his own wholly unique electronic framework - a concept quite aptly captured through the project's cover artwork, courtesy of the always brilliant Régine Lanoir.
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