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ZE 024CD
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Originally released in 2005.
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ZE 023CD
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2016 restock; originally released in 2005. Les Pop Songs: Best Of and Les Ballades: Best Of comprise two CD compilations encompassing the very best of Lio's pop songs and ballads. Twenty-five years? From the 17 year-old Wanda, hanging out in her room, listening to Blondie, Chiffons or Jane Birkin, to the established artist in the European music scene with more than eight albums, numerous singles, some amazing videos (with such directors as Jean-Pierre Jeunet), and hundreds of worldwide shows. These compilations are a journey into Lio's universe, filled with delightful images and insolent dreams; from the stirring "Sage Comme Une Image" or "Les Brunes Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes," to the softer and emotional "L'Autre Joue" and "Je M'ennuie De Toi." Whether it is on Pop Songs or Ballades, you'll find that the songs lie somewhere between cynicism and tenderness, a subtle mix of naïve character and strongly shaped personality. Lio's legendary energy and cheeky enthusiasm are felt all over this compilation, sometimes in a cheerful way, sometimes through poetic melancholy. The cover illustration of Pop Songs and Ballades, by famous artist Guy Peeleart, symbolizes perfectly this artful and sympathic duality, or, to be true to Lio's verbal combinations, this "sweet schizophrenia."
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ZE 022CD
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Originally released in 1996, Wandatta is one of Lio's most personal albums. After a five-year gap from her previous release, "Wandatta" alludes to her given name, Wanda Maria de Vasconcelos, as the pop icon/actress attempted to shed her nymphette status while still remaining as provocative as ever. Recorded at Studio Musica & Studio de La Grande Armée, Wandatta was initially refused by her major label who did not understand their Lolita's sudden change of style and began complaining that Lio's new songs were far too removed from her media image. After a break from her label, Lio teamed up with renowned French song writer Boris Bergman, and the result is amazing: dark and sometimes disturbing, both the music and the lyrics are often paradoxical. Based upon a hypnotic set of percussions, "Manchette" and "J'te Frappe" are two heavy tracks with experimental touches, while "Cruauté Menthol" and "In Extremis" tackle the dirtier and more frenetic aspect of rock n' roll. Wandatta is an eclectic album fusing influences from Mexico and Japan, also expressing a deep melancholy inspired by Portuguese traditional fado. Lio said of this album: "I didn't want to kill Lio, but we had to find a certain balance." This assertion is exactly what makes this record so malleable and revealing.
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ZE 020CD
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This is Lio's fifth album, originally released in 1988, now remastered and reissued with four bonus tracks by Ze Records. The incredible success of Pop Model and its four amazing singles repositioned Lio as one of the most important French pop singers of her time. Intense promotion, multiple entreaties, heavy radio airplay, magazine covers, countless numbers of TV appearances without mentioning the three videos constantly broadcasted on musical networks, certainly kept Lio and her producer Michel Esteban busy. Nevertheless, Pop Model needed a worthy successor. With the aid of Jacques Duvall, Guillaume Israel (who wrote two wonderful tracks: "C'est Ça Ma Vie" and "Malaise Sur La Falaise"), Vincent Palmer and Yann Leker, Can Can set out to remold Lio in image and song. At the beginning, the concept behind this album was to be a tribute to the typically French state of mind symbolized by the famous can-can style. Born in the late 19th century at the notorious Moulin Rouge Parisian cabaret, the can-can is an exclusively feminine ritualized and provocative dance. This revolutionary, original, cheerful and politically- incorrect state of mind seemed to be the perfect lineage and the natural evolution of Lio's image initiated with Pop Model. Obviously, Can Can featured potential hits as much as Pop Model, however, the switch from energetic singles to the softer ballades of Can Can (like the single "Seules Les Filles Pleurent") was clearly misunderstood by the audience. Featuring anthemic rock, bubbling synth pop, burlesque-tinged siren songs and morose ballads, Can Can did not sell as well as her previously-released albums. However, Lio clearly remained a compelling personality caught in a marvellous and imaginative visual context, confirmed here by the album artwork done by legendary artist Hugo Pratt.
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ZE 021CD
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This is Lio's sixth album, originally released in 1991, now remastered and reissued with five bonus tracks by Ze Records. The electro-pop Lolita, French chanteuse and can-can diva travelled to London to record Des Fleurs Pour Un Caméléon which was produced under the general direction of famous French singer/producer Etienne Daho. The album is clearly influenced by the English pop-rock style of that time. Lio's performance on this record is tinged with soft and deep intonations, colored by her famous "joyful despair" approach. Without overshadowing her protégée's performance, Daho's universe is omnipresent: keyboards and guitars harmoniously intermingle until they reach a flawless climax and melodies are catchy without being oversweet. Lio's smoother voice perfectly compliments this atmosphere, whether it is on the electric "Je Me Tords," or the cover of "Girl From Ipanema," and the touch of producer Daho is impeccable, along with the collaboration of artists like Gota and Jacques Duvall. Des Fleurs Pour Un Caméléon wasn't as commercially successful as some of its predecessors, but sometimes, the chameleon is doing its job so perfectly that it remains unnoticed.
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ZE 019CD
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2016 restock. 2005 reissue. This is Lio's fourth album, originally released in 1986, now remastered and reissued with seven bonus tracks by Ze Records. After a little break in her musical career -- filled with delightful movie appearances, Lio headed to Los Angeles with her new partner/producer Michel Esteban to start on the Pop Model recording sessions. Joined by legendary Tom Tom Club member Steven Stanley, the new team was certainly impressive. In addition to being part of one of the most influential dance acts ever, Shanley was also a fantastically talented Compass Point Island Studios resident sound engineer who collaborated with Grace Jones, Bob Marley, B52s and Talking Heads and who also co-produced the classic, numerously sampled, "Wordy Rappinghood." Recorded between Los Angeles and Gilberto Gil's own studio in Rio de Janeiro, there was a special communicative euphoria among the musicians, Lio and additional producer teammate, John Cale. Vibrantly colored by the wonderful lyrics and bongo and brass accompaniment for "Pop Song," and the orchestral "Veste Du Soir," driven by hit singles "Les Brunes Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes," "Fallait Pas Commencer," and boosted by Hollywood-budget videos for "Barbie" (inspired by Ciao Manhattan), Pop Model established itself as a critically-acclaimed solid album, which catapulted Lio to the status of perpetually-winking cover girl. Not bad for the "French variété Lolita." Lio is a permanent surprise, constantly redefining herself for the pleasure of our amazed ears.
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ZE 018CD
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2016 restock. 2005 reissue. This is Lio's third album, originally released in 1983, now remastered and reissued with five bonus tracks by Ze Records. At 20 years old the pop singer/icon was already catapulted to fame overnight, her image plastered across the covers of mainstream European music magazines, and her reputation of "techno pop" artist was already established. Lio decided to stir things up a bit with Amour Toujours. With its fine and delicate melodies, its daring but nevertheless gentle vocals, Amour Toujours falls within the scope of purely traditional French songs with an ambiance perfectly displayed by famous photographer Robert Doisneau who shot the album cover and the pictures included in this booklet. Producer Alain Chamfort brings his whole variété background to Lio's Lolita universe: from the typically French association ensues a series of sincere and touching songs ("La Vérité Toute Nue," "Je Voudrais Bien Me Sentir Mal," "Motus à La Muette") where you can still notice the distinctive lyrics of songwriter Jacques Duvall. After the energetic effervescence of her first albums, Lio shows her ability to follow a softer and milder path. Far from being disappointed, the audience was still pleased with Lio's new direction, soon confirmed by the commercial success of the later released single "Tétéou" (which is included here on the bonus tracks). Whatever the team behind the desk, whatever the color of her songs, Lio's music is still what a Belgian reviewer/archivist once said: "...perfect French bubble-gum pop by a vivid young girl."
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ZE 017CD
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2016 restock. 2005 reissue; originally released in 1982. Only one year after her hugely successful debut, Lio, the emerging Belgian/Portuguese sexy pop icon went on to record her sophomore project: Suite Sixtine. Ze Records has now remastered this second release, originally released in 1982, which features English versions of her past songs plus various new singles. At the time of this recording, Lio was still divided between schoolrooms and studio sessions and the idea of adapting her songs into English was crucial to launching her '80s digital French pop on a global scale. On top of that, Lio collaborated on this project with Californian producers Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks-fame. It was a genuine challenge for Lio to retain her strong personality while immersing herself in the Mael brothers' very particular musical world view. Lio proved her composure and nerve against the frenetic synths of "Marie Antoinette" and "Housewife Of The Year," and on the hypnotic hook of "I'll Expose You." Alongside the disco-oriented hit single "Sage Comme Une Image" and the more pop (ular) "Mona Lisa," this album is also marked by the apparition of amazing French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg (with the cover of "Baby Lou"), and Alain Chamfort who will produce her next album. Instant child-star in the early eighties, Lio's popularity has never really decreased, whether she's insouciantly smoking out candy-coated Human League-infused pop songs, or whether she's burning up the silver screen.
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