LIO_ WANDATTA_ ORIGINALY RELEASED 1993
1996, five years after her last opus, Lio’s new album is finally released after a few struggles and many prevarications. Immediatly, and surely hastily, dubbed the lolita of French pop music – exactly as teenage stars Vanessa Paradis or Elsa a decade later – Lio knew that it was time for her to shake off the « Baby Doll” personality of her early days. Originaly recorded in 1992, Wandatta appears like a very particular album in Lio’s musical career. Although refused by her Major Label which was not understanding their ex-lolita sudden and brutal change of style and began complainning that Lio’s new songs were far too removed from her media image, the obstinated singer was not a woman known for giving up easily... (to the point when she had to break her record deal). Indeed, compared to her previous efforts Wandatta is a way more personal and ambitious album, from its conception to its realisation. Teamed for this new project with the renowned French song writer Boris Bergman (with who she had previously worked, on the Tétéou single), the result is amazing: dark and sometimes disturbing, both the music and the lyrics are paradoxical in a deep manner. Using her original name, Wanda obviously try to distinguish herself from Lio. Based upon and around an hypnotic set of percussions Manchette and J’Te Frappe are two heavy tracks with a little experimental touch, but we also have the dirtier Rock’n’Roll side on Cruauté Menthol or the frenetic In Extremis. While very coherent, Wandatta is an eclectic album fusing influences from Mexico and Japan, or expressing a deep melancholy inspired by portuguese tradional fado on Tristeza. Both on and off the music scene, Lio’s choices have always been honest and interesting, this album is a clear example of this fact, exactly like her movie collaborations at that time (Jesus Delgado’s Niña de tu sueños and Marion Vernoux’s Personne ne m’aime) or her visual background illustrated here by a wonderful cover designed by Guy Pellaert (known for his covers for David Bowie and the Rolling Stones). Lio said about this album: « I didn’t want to kill Lio, but we had to find a certain balance », maybe that’s what she doing the best, find a personal balance on every musical universe she has been through...
01 • Felix • 1:48
(Boris Bergman / Speedy Graphito)
02 • Escapa • 9:24
(Boris Bergman / Lucas Martinez)
03 • Manchettes • 4:43
(Boris Bergman / Dimitri Tikovoï)
04 • J'Te Frappe • 4:15
(Boris Bergman / Paul Ives)
05 • Cruauté Menthol • 5:15
(Boris Bergman / Dimitri Tikovoï)
06 • Garde A Vue • 2:50
(Boris Bergman / Paul Ives)
07 • Soirs De Tour Eiffel • 3:41
(Boris Bergman / Makoto Carteron)
08 • Ghettos • 3:05
(Adaptation française de Boris Bergman de «In the Ghetto»)
Paroles et musiques originales de Mac Davis
09 • Idylle A Vera Cruz • 4:13
(Boris Bergman / Paul Ives)
10 • Tristeza • 3:19
( Boris Bergman / Lucas Martinez)
11 • Léonard (Part 1) • 1:55
(Boris Bergman / Makoto Carteron)
12 • In Extremis • 3:27
(Boris Bergman / Dimitri Tikovoï)
13 • Chesterfield • 4:40
(Boris Bergman / Paul Ives)
14 • 7 Etages Sans Ascenseur • 3:29
(Boris Bergman / Paul Ives)
15 • Léonard Le Retour • 1:38
(Boris Bergman / Makoto Carteron)
MUSICIANS
Bass • Fred Payonne • Jerome Goldet on « Manchettes »
Drums • Dimitri Tikovoï & Philippe Daï
Guitars • Eric Traissard & Lucas Martinez
Guitars Solo on « Manchettes », « Chesterfiled », « In extremis » & « Cruauté Menthol »
Keyboards • Gilles Erhart
Keyboards on « Escapada » • Vic Emerson
Programing on « Escapada » • Lucas Martinez
Bandoneon • Walter de Aroujo on “Tristeza”
Backgroung Vocals • The C.C Sisters : Silvaine Bordy, LNA & Wanda
Backgroung Vocals on « Cruauté Menthol »: Corinne Daraï & Mimi Felixine
Backgroung Vocals on « Leonnard »: Makoto, Ayako & Mako
Percussions on « Manchettes » • Feedback
Rodrigo Barahona & ses Mariachis Anahual on « Idylle à Vera Cruz »
Vocals & Trumpet on « Idylle à Vera Cruz » Salvador Garcia
Trumpet on « Ghettos »: Abraham Morales
Flute on « Escapada » • Malik Mezzadri
SOUND
Produced by Lio & Philippe Draï
Mixed by Michel Olivier at Studio de La Grande Armée, Spring 1993
Arranged by Philippe Draï except :
Songs by Dimitri Tikovoï, Makoto Carteron & Speedy Graphito
Recorded at Studio Musica & Studio de La Grande Armée, 1993
Recording engineers Michel Olivier assisted by David Vadant at Studio Musica
& by Christophe Jeauseau, Bruno Sourice & Big Marco (Edit) at Studio de La Grande Armée
Originaly released in 1995
Reissue co-ordinated by Michel Esteban
Remastered 2005 by Charlus de la Salle at South Factory Sudio
This selection (p) & (c) 2005 ZE Records under Licence by OZ
DESIGN
Original Art Cover Design by Guy Peellaert
