Two compilations full of artists from eastern and central Europe, compiled by Jean-Marie K., for Le Maquis.
Including works from the finalists of Radio France International's contests 'Prix RFI Musiques Electroniques', with Ludovic Navarre and Laurent Garnier in the chief jury positions respectively, it's a honest attempt to capture the multi-faceted 'sound' of ... half-a-continent or so. The project brings in mind certain french releases, with their glossy productions and eclectic, semi-intellectual approach to 'ethnic' sounds; which in this case means a lot of strings and unidentified vocals. On the other hand, it brings forward several direly neglected heroes of european electronics like Random Logic and Octex (see here for more), while post-breaks, loungey downtempo sounds have the biggest representation with shining stars like Yonderboi or Alexandroid (also mentioned here).
VA - 2002 Datcha Studio
Info here.
VA - 2003 Datcha Studio Vol.2
Info here.
Datcha Studio
Tempovision
We've met Etienne De Crécy before in the Motorbass posts (*,*). Here's his last solo project, an album of great craftsmanship and undeniable beauty; I'll only say that it's kept me company for all these years without losing even a drop of its appeal.
Where 'Pansoul' was a nocturnal urban affair, this one is full of sunlight and melodies - expect slo-mo filter disco, electronic funk and breaks, plus lots of twisted synths and sensual voices. Its commercial success was rather easy to predict; it rightly deserved all the attention it got. I also posted the remix compilation released a couple of years later, mostly top notch french house at its weirdest, along with three included videos.
Although Zdar continues releasing stuff as Cassius, I've lost de Crecy's tracks. An early retirement, possibly?
Etienne de Crécy - 2000 Tempovision
Info here.
Etienne de Crécy - 2002 Tempovision Remixes
Info here.
Etienne de Crécy - 2002 Tempovision Videos
More from him later on.
Kraftwork @ Nu Skool Elektro 2
It's been a while since I did a solid electro post, so here's a compilation of robo breaks and nervous basslines with acid tweeks from all over Europe.
Contributions include a few tracks already posted before (by Scan X and A1 People), others by established artists like Scanner (*), Luke Slater, Carl Finlow (*), Stanny Franssen, Zzino, etc.; and a host of less known names of whom Ultradyne and Prozack are the only ones I knew and most of whom have disappeared ages ago.
Bad artwork and ridiculous titles are long-standing traditions for generic compilations like this one, solid soundwise but full of less known names - and we shouldn't like it otherwise. Awful covers scare away the hasty customers that don't reach the tracklist at all, leaving the CDs stored in dusty shelves, waiting for us to pick them up.
There was a Vol.1 (obviously...) that sounds promising, which I never managed to track down anyway.
VA - 1998 Kraftwork @ Nu Skool Elektro 2
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Microfunk Klickhouse
While on that trip, here's a 2CD compilation by techno devoted distributor Neuton, presenting a multitude of artists from their labels cluster to define the (2003) cutting edge sound of ... (insert fanfare) ... Microfunk. Or Clickhouse. Microhouse, maybe. Noticed the initials? Anyway. I was going to post Akufen's track (that appeared as an extra in the 2nd print of his 'My Way' album, as noted here), then decided to post the whole compilation anyway.
The thing is, gathered here are artists from the rosters of Force Inc., Perlon, Boxer, SubStatic, etc., etc.; most of them have been presented through this blog before, so just check the tracklist. CD1 focuces more on techhouse a la Forcetracks, while CD2 delves more into mini-techno and occasionally experimental territory. In all, a representative comp of the tendencies of the time; once more, it's easy to recognize here the blueprint of what shortly became mainstream everywhere.
It was really weird to see Neuton crash (as was with EFA earlier); its labels did at that time really well; most of them still do, after all.
VA - 2003 Microfunk Clickhouse
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Four times I wrote and erased the above text, took me more than an hour; which probably reveals more for the state of my mind during these last weeks (I'm working two office jobs overtime...) than a genuine oh-so-blogger-like gut spilling would do. Sorry for any delays in requests, keep annoying me for what I promised; assume I've forgotten everything.
Circulation. Abstract Funk Theory
From Obsessive's Abstract Funk Theory series, this is the one compiled by Circulation (*); it's unmixed and, along with Carl Craig's, my personal favorite of the lot.
Tech, house and electro sweetness by artists already presented in this blog, like Carl Craig (*), Carl Finlow (*) and themselves; plus from The Timewriter, Atjazz, Touche!'s Jamez vs. H.P.Vince and an early Bushwacka!. Despite the compilation's global representation and chronological variety, it sounds tight and stylish without losing its clubbish character, allowing us a glimpse of the late '90s UK techhouse/ techfunk/ whatever sound.
Sounds good in the summer heat too; hadn't noticed that before.
VA - 2001 Circulation. Abstract Funk Theory
Info here.
So Fucking Chic
This is the debut album of french group Junesex, out through Hamburg's Popup Records; darkish, sex infected, home-made electro with post-punk sound and rock attitude. Their sound stands close to the Kitsune/Ed Banger and like stuff, yet without the typical (post Daft Punk) tricks all the others use to death; the Junesex final mixes sound more like a rock band with synths than the all-pumping, filter sweeping, samples overload of the 'electro-rock' blueprint.
To tell the truth, I feel this whole 'sex' thing is a show-off. I bought this one for 'Gets Close To Mine', which anyway I had to edit and extend to play it; still, a perfectly good reason to check this album. Fortunately, some time later a 12" came out, with a Schatrax remix as well. Lucky us.
There's also a 'hidden' beatless track at the end of CD track #14.
Junesex - 2004 So Fucking Chic
Info here.
Le Catalogue Electronique
Motorbass' Early Works
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In the 2003 reissue of timeless classic 'Pansoul' (*), there was a second CD bringing together legendary duo's first two self-released EPs, namely 'EP1' (1992) and 'Transphunk EP' (1993). Well, here it is.
Motorbass - 2003 Early Works (1992-1993)
Info here.
Motorbass are Etienne De Crecy & Philippe Zdar, of course. The first EP is more techno and acid oriented, still we can hear where they were going after all. 'Transphunk' points more towards their later approach of house music.
The Army Of 1-0
This is the second (and last up to now) album by The Youngsters (*), also out through F Comm.
Everything I've written on their debut more or less applies here as well; a solid mix of hazy house, tough electro and deep techno, with slightly more breaks and jazz elements added. Two young Parisians daringly re-interpreting the Detroit sound, fitting it in their own city's dreams. The EBM-ish 'Place, Race & Face' stands out easily as the 'hit', still give the proper attention to the rest of the tracks; some subtle hallucinogenic gems hidden in there (see 'Confusion' or 'Mellotron', for example).
The Youngsters - 2004 The Army Of 1-0
Info here.
Highway & Landscape
Here's something to help you through the aftermath of NYE's partying, clubbing or whatever it is you did last night.
Three compilations, selected and mixed by Jean-Yves LeLoup of RadioMentale, out through Distance (check *,*,*). Chill out music that doesn't make you flinch, as rare as that can be, deep beats and soft breaks mostly. No groundbreaking experiments here, just good, good music and a lot of chill classics.
The first one has been one of my favorite after-the-comedown albums for many years now, always accessible and calming. Also works good during daytime, on a train ride or for driving, for example. I recommend it without second thought. It focuses a lot on US and UK electronics; all-star ambient techno, dubby trip hop and deep house (with 'Sueño Plutino' on top), a bit glossy at times, yet soothing for tired ears. It's mixed, thought transitions last for a minimum amount of time, just to keep the flow.
Vol.2 is more upbeat, signifying a turn towards that (by then established) french 'chill grooves' thing, deep house and the occasional breaks, sometimes with ethnic elements. OK, it's not music for expensive restaurants - yet not that far away from that. I consider it to be the weakest link in the series, despite its good moments.
On the same track but more interesting is Vol.3, that compiles on the first CD some good deep beats and on CD2 what they called 'cinematic' breaks (many Ninja Tune influences there). I bought it only yesterday and gave it a shot just now, so I have not formed an opinion yet. Up to now it sounds interesting and classy, especially CD1..jpeg)
VA - Highway & Landscape Vol.1 (1997)
CD1. Highway
CD2. Landscape
Info here..jpeg)
VA - Highway & Landscape Vol.2 (1998)
CD. Deep Beats and Chill Breaks
Info here..jpeg)
VA - Highway & Landscape Vol.3 (2000)
CD1. Deep Beats
CD2. Cinematic Breaks
Info here.
24 Heures
That's the Oxia album I had promised, from the Goodlife vaults of course (*). This guy crosses over to the banging tribal side of techno more often than the rest of his label friends; still this album is characteristic of his more mature phase, where Detroit tech and robo electro tracks with that extra european darkish touch were obvious and well delivered.
Oxia - 2004 24 Heures
Info here.
TRACK. Funk Electric
Quality electro funk compilation from the much respected Hydrogen Dukebox label, full of robo beats and oldschool electro UK-style.
Specials included are a Dopplereffekt-in-disguise remix for Scan X (*) , an Aux 88 (*) vs. Laurent Garnier 'Crispy Bacon', as well as a Mekon vs. Les Rythmes Digitales rework.
Label's own include Drum Club's Lol (see Girl Eats Boy), alongside A1 People (*), Metamatics, Omnivore, etc.
VA - 1998 TRACK: Funk Electric
Info here.
Mélodies en Sous-Sol
Recently around the net I came upon two or three posts of early 12"s by Miss Kittin & The Hacker, which reminded me of this one. Out in his (by 1/3) own Goodlife (*), it's the debut album of Michel Amato as The Hacker, full of Detroit influenced techno and slightly retro electro tracks.
Included here are 'Fadin Away' (*) and bangers 'Techno Sunset' and 'Other Voices' amongst others. Not an all-convincing album, I used to think - a lot of people sensed that Kittin's vocals filled the gap left in between his darkwave fixations and his dance beats. And his primitive sounds and simplistic programming sounded a bit weird, in those days where the Daft Punk-influenced, over-produced french wave of filter- and disco-house ruled all. Back then I guessed he was too lazy or too much an ex-punk to bother.
Now I consider it to be an intentional and in a way romantic approach (neo-romantic, to be exact). His later releases brought to the front his other true loves: EBM and the early hardcore rave sound. Judging by the fate of many of his contemporaries (quitting or changing their sound completely), it clearly shows that he had a vision from the start and he stayed true to it, so all we have to say is RESPECT.
The Hacker - 1999 Mélodies en Sous-Sol
Info here.
More of The Hacker here.
I'll soon post Oxia's Goodlife album as well.
Scan X
This is Stéphane Dri, one of my favorite artists in F Communications, giving us some good old '90s dark electro-techno, french style. Which by now you ought to know how much I like.
From 'Lost' came also a 12" (in awful vinyl, btw) with a Dopplereffekt remix; which I remember to have also in a comp CD somewhere. Have to find it.
Scan X - 1996 Chroma
Info here.
Scan X- 1997 Lost
Info here.
In Neutral
This might be the first one I heard been classified as 'tech house', as far as I remember. Out in Substance.
Spencer Kincey takes the deep Chicago house blueprint one minimalistic step further, yet keeping away from the Detroit style house experiments of the time, setting an example to be followed by many, soundwise - a cleaner, safer version of the Relief/Cajual sound. As the sticker on the cover asks: 'Is it House or is it Techno?' Like it matters, anyway.
Although a bit flat for my tastes, I liked his loopy drum machines + synths approach and played the 'Shadowland' track a bit back then. I decided to post this one when I realized that more or less nothing can be found around the net from him (as Gemini, at least).
Gemini - 1997 In Neutral
Info here.
P.S. For the time being, the 'In And Out Of Fog And Lights' LP in Peacefrog can be found in the comments.
Aufgang live
So, it's not a post about a lost Voigt project.
I've come to like InFiné more and more recently, a french label I had noticed but overlooked, until I came upon Donso's magical 'Somono Foly' EP. After a little research I found out it's Agoria's label, a guy that I totally respect and adore his music since the first time I heard it - so here I am now trying to hunt down those (elusive in Greece) 12''s whenever I can.
Releases are mostly produced/mixed by Agoria, while music comes from icons like The Hacker and Apparat, new rising stars like Danton Eeprom, Rone, Cubenx, Douglas Greed, Clara Moto and Fraction, plus the pianist Fransesco Tristano.
Every 12" is virtually different from the next one, most of them drawing from the generic techno background, yet common ground ends here. You might hear influences from IDM, italo disco, deep house, electro, neo-classical and trance - mostly combined in weird forms, in varying proportions so that each track is more or less unique. (Even more) exceptional releases are the aforementioned Donso one, combining Malinese vocals, deep beats and quirky percussions and the piano-based landscapes of the Fransesco Tristano ones, together with Rami Khalifé and Aymeric Westrich as Aufgang.
So, a live recording of a recent Aufgang concert is found at the Grandcrew site, here.
Also check earlier posted Carl Craig vs Fransesco Tristano concert here, and a collection of Infine videos here.
It's so good to feel that a label owner really cares for delivering something special and different than the rest of the current music production, breaking down commercially oriented style rules and trying weird combinations. By the way, Agoria's last album (the OST for Luc Besson's film 'Go Fast') is just incredible.
Long live InFiné, you have my total respect.
Puzzle
I had this one for a long time, left unheard in the back of some CD boxes. Classified it as a typical french 'chill-out' CD, I'd skipped through it a couple of times and forgotten about it (except the 'Camping Jazz' track). They are I:Cube, which I already knew and liked due to his harder approach and Gilb'R, owner of Versatile.
Later I bought I:Cube's 'Acid Tablet' and their 'Baroque' one, and both EPs happily surprised me musically, while the Versatile connection with Berlin's Innervisions slowly became apparent (see also here). But I was really left speechless by their 'Body Language Vol.5' compilation, the eclectic crown point of a remarkable series (that I thought had already reached its height with Dixon's 'BD Vol.4'). A collection of mostly unknown tracks combining acid, techno beats, disco and electro plus a manic Henrik Schwarz track, it urged me to dig this one out again and give it another chance, trying to understand how could I have passed by such a serious project.
The truth is that this album is a totally different affair. By 2005-2006 the label had already built their name and been going well - with the rise of the 'nu-rave' electro-rock hype and all, as well as the success of Joakim's more idiosyncratic attempts in disco- and prog-influenced electro. For good reasons, I'd say, as Versatile sounds to my ears the most quality consistent and cerebral oriented label of all the similar french ones. Back then though the french chill thing was still big, and more or less this album follow the norms of that style, in somewhat typical chill house and downtempo structures. There are many rare elements in there though, nice deepness all around, lush synths and jazz- funk inspired beats and weird ethno references, take your pick. I've spent many hours listening to it in repeat and I can assure you, even though it might not grab you at first, it slowly grows on you.
Château Flight - 2000 Puzzle
Info here.
Ghost In The Shell (Playstation Soundtrack)
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Soundtrack from the PS game (never played it) based on the legendary anime (see here).
CD 1 is a collection of hard bangers with extra minimalistic tendencies (I guess they thought simple track structures help the gameplay), while CD 2 goes into weirder territories - not always with the best results, I might add, yet its good times are the most interesting.
All players are top notch artists, most of them at the peak of their time, see the info page. Still, I wouldn't call it really special as a compilation, just a sample of the tendencies of the time. Includes some rare mixes and good tracks.
VA - 1997 Ghost In The Shell (Playstation OST)
CD 1 - CD 2
Info here.
Btw, on my CD cover the last tracks of each CD are remixes of the Derrick May track 'To Be Or Not To Be'.
LemonOrange
Mostly a compilation of their previous EPs in F Comm, this album combines Detroit aesthetics with the roughness of the french electro techno scene of the early '00s and house feeling - plus good production.
Their maximalistic approach might sound dated to 'modern' ears; full of synths and fat drum sounds, for the old school it'll be just great. They drew my attention with their stronger attempts; 'Illogique' is a monster track and an old favorite with its sick vox and its drive, 'Spanish Harlem' borrows from the NYC techno blueprint and 'Abusive Melody' and 'Anxious Boy' might pass for fresh remixes of Detroit oldies. The rest of the album is also an adventurous journey, including a post-disco burner ('Slow'), electro, vocal house, even downtempo breaks. The inevitable house factor (it's F Comm after all) functions as the glue that holds the whole album together.
I haven't managed to check their recent releases in 20:20Vision yet. The Ovum one is more of a modern house record; secretly, I hope to see them again dare a bit more at the electro techno front again.
The Youngsters - 2001 LemonOrange
Info here.
P.S. 2010-01-11. Their 2nd album is here.
Detroit House Fever
French compilation of Detroit and Chicago artists in full house mode.
Personal favorites are Moodyman's and Kelli Hand's filter monsters, DJ Assault's simple, honest, down-to-earth booty funk and the all time classic Random Noise Generation (*) debut.
VA - 1997 Detroit House Fever
Info here.
Terrence Parker's wonderful track is not included; yet I remember it to be in another compilation, so I'll add it in due time.
