🎹🌍🎶🕺🎧 Ray Lema moved to France in 1982 after leaving Zaire following a « disagreement » with Mobutu, and after a short stay in the United States. Spotted by Jean-François Bizot, then in the midst of developing his worldwide sound, his first albums were naturally released on the Celluloid label, of which Bizot was one of the co-founders. After an initial EP followed by the album Kinshasa Washington DC Paris, which recounted his career, the album Médecine, produced by Martin Meissonnier, was released in 1985. Ray Lema continued his exploration of the marriage between Africa and synthetic and electro sounds. Traditional rhythms and rumba rub shoulders with funk and even reggae, and the album marked the beginning of international success for the Congolese pianist, singer and arranger. Tony Allen, Thierry Fanfant, Samba N’go’s guitar and the backing vocals of Ballou Canta and Lokua Kanza all feature on this album.
[Edit] After this post appeared on Instagram, Martin Meissonnier reacted by telling us that the cover design had, at the time, earned his producers a little summons to the police station for an explanation session…
