French house & filterdisco

HATE: most of the current crop of pop-house tracks, which make it seriously difficult to hold to my impassioned defence of French House. Convergence of French House and Filtered Disco into an inferior almagam of self-referentiality: all of these songs (Supermen Lovers, Madamoiselle, Bardot, etc.) seem to wander around half maniacally cheery, half smug, shouting "I am filtered! 'Dis be from old Disco Track of Yore! I am also quite camp and have sizable support in the local gay venue! Here comes Chic again! You must love me!" Which wouldn't be so bad if they ever tried to say anything else ever.

Overslagged: Modjo - not only was "Lady" Rather Good I Thought, but there's a couple of tracks on the album with really excellent science-grooves (germinating theory: French House is best at its most scientific-sounding) that we would all love if they'd been on Discovery.

Ever-Present Danger of This Stuff: how many artists can you fit on the head of a needle when Jamiroquai's hat is already taking up so much room?

Current fave manifestations: Jean Jaques Smoothie's "2 People" in both its Moloko and Mirwais incarnations, L'mour's "Takin' Hold".

"Starlight" is actually pretty good, but it suffers from appearing amongst a glut of other very similar stuff.

"Lady" is not all about the guitar sample, but - duh - the bassline.

Experience made even more touching by the video clip, which provided a totally different narrative intepretation which I found even more bordering-on-painful - Gareth are you basing your interpretation on this? Because it's shockingly close.

This is the problem with too much French House/phased disco - the emotions are too obvious and uncomplicated, both within each song and across the style generally, when it's clear that emotions represent an area that it could in fact excel at.

Actually, come to think of it, I think some of the French stuff (eg Daft Punk) is actually better at this because they seem to be aware of the absurdities of trying to do disco in a 2001 techno stylee, and often deliberately emphasise the artificialities and technology in their production, often in a very creative way. Dunno about that "Starlight" tho. Great production, ace video, but songwise it's .. good chorus, and erm... yeah. Almost like I'm listening to The Disco Strokes, I'm left thinking: is this it?

BTW I'm surprised no-one's mentioned "Cassius 1999" yet. now, that's a neat filter-house record. And for the record, I thought Cher's "Believe" was actually jolly good, particularly in the way it surreptiously borrows from happy hardcore. It almost sounds like a souped-up cover of a Q-Tex song! Old Fart!!!!

so, when possible I'm downloading lots of grime & dancehall & microhouse/shuffletech & that; but I'm always left with a sneaking suspicion that there's a lot of amazing french filter-house & such singles coming out & there's not nearly enough discussion about them.

um, it'd be nice if people talked about singles, not crydamoure comps &c.

Phoenix-If I Ever Feel Better (Buffalo Bunch Remix)

Bangalter and Falcon-Together

We In Music-Now That The Love Has Gone (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)

Lacquer-Behind.

Les Rhythmes Digitales-From Disco To Disco

Archigram-Carnival

Syndicated People-Be Right

Kid Kreme-Hynotizin'

Alan Braxe and Fred Falke-Love Lost (at +6 or so mind you)

Josh One-Contemplation (King Britte Funk Remix), loosely french.

Agoria-La Onzieme Marche (Rollercoaster Mix)

Linus Loves-The Terrace.

Felix Da Housecat-Silver Screen Shower Scene (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)

Prassay-Krvsin (I really love this one actually, it's really subtle and I guess tasteful but still has a great hook, never gets any props either)

GusGus-David.

Cosmos-Take Me With You

Alan Braxe and Fred Falke-Runnin.

Tim's comment about it going dark is interesting, definitely check out "Outrage" by Bangalter Tim. Are the likes of Hatiras and those endless pleasant but not so original whack you round the head french house/techno records darker french house? The sort of stuff Justin Robertson plays perhaps?

Other takes on "darker" french house, could I be so bold as to say UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE, the Transition/Inspiration 12". They'd never admit it I guess.

Lighter and slightly weirder French stuff, The Paradise-In Love With You, Bangalter & Falcon-So Much Love To Give, Space Cowboy-Just Put Your Hand In Mine.

This is probably my favourite type of music. I guess I love what I see as its versatility, it exposed me as something of a closet pop fan I guess since I love alot of it cos I can sing along to it, but at the same time it satisfies the dance geek part of me, in that it can also be really complex and rhythmically weird to dance to, I guess the backbone of the best french house has been its persistent ability to fuck with the conventional dance ideas of what should go where, and indeed with repetition itself.

My favourite french house record ever is probably DJ Falcon's remix of La Mouche by Cassius. It's not aged fantastically but is still well worth checking out, it's really quite something and sums up what I mean by french house altering the ideas of repetition in dance music. It's quite hypnotic.

I will try and add more later.

Holy smokes. I could go on and on about this stuff. Let me say that the video to Laquer's "Behind" is monumentous.

"The track also features a fantastic video directed by legends Michel and Olivier Gondry (White Stripes Lego video, Levis’ Mouse ad). The video is a speeded road trip of Olivier Gondry driving from LA to New York. 4 hours footage in four minutes, the video has already received rave features in the likes of Creative Review and advertising bible Shots."

Yeah. It's that good.

http://www.click2music.co.uk/lacquer

Alan Braxe's Britney Spears remix ["Anticipating"] is offa tha meatchain. I played it over and over DJing one night and people kept getting up and dancing to the break. If she knows what's good for her Braxe will get some credit on her new disque.

The new album from the Eternals "Astropioneers" has tons of heavenly hooks. I think it's only available in .fr and .ch though.

"Together" has got to be the most astonishing new French track, though. Relentlessly repetative. Swirld to the maxx. Great intro. Drop the intro a bunch of times then bleed into the track and people will shuffle onto the dancefloor.

Ah, and the Oxtongue 12" [recently christening the Kompakt POP label] is lovely lovely lovely. Overheard while spinning that one "I imagine this is what heaven sounds like"]. Indeed.

the last Cassius album was bit under-rated - i really like a lot of the tracks on it...tho the rest is bordering on unlistenable nonsense

are Paper Faces french? their mixes of Zoot Woman and Themroc have been good.

Oh yes!

http://www.astropioneers.com/SITE/download/mayer.ram

Talk about meeting of the minds...

Oh Oui!

I'll look out for it. One track I can think of which vaguely fits the description is a quite full-on mix of Cassius's "Sound of Violence", and a few Crydamoure tracks are pretty overpowering as well. I pretty much mean tracks where the slightly druggy daze that characterises French House slips into menacing delerium. With its raspy chords and acid wig-out "Am I Wrong" seemed at the time (2000?) to suggest a pretty dark vibe, even though it's not actually what I would describe as "punishing".

"Are the likes of Hatiras and those endless pleasant but not so original whack you round the head french house/techno records darker french house? The sort of stuff Justin Robertson plays perhaps?"

I'm only really familiar w/ "Spaced Invader" in the form of the jungle mix by J Majick - although that was pretty much sped-up french house anyway and it certainly fits what I mean (and is one of the best tracks for dancing ever ever ever - thought i was gonna spontaneously combust when I first heard it out)

Geyster - Bye Bye Superman
Spiller - Sola
Bootsy Collins - Play With Bootsy (Galleon Remix)
Bob Sinclar - Beat The Clock
Bob Sinclar - Sexy Dancer

Geyster - Bye Bye Superman
Spiller - Sola
Bootsy Collins - Play With Bootsy (Galleon Remix)
Bob Sinclar - Beat The Clock
Bob Sinclar - Sexy Dancer

For another take on that dark French sound check 'Organic' by Agoria (it's on his album Blossom out next month...nice album btw which actually makes a good case for that Frenchy <> U.R. interface Ronan talks about...'La Onzieme Marche' is on it too...monster track).

this does not apply to 'thought it was you'

i find it odd that french house should lend itself so well to jungle remixes but the dj hype remix of scratched by etienne de crecy is beautiful.

it starts out with rolling house breaks and, um, a bassline and an ARP, i think. but then, out of nowhere, some dude starts screaming, over a megaphone i think, and it could be black french (or not), and a police siren kicks in, and then faux scratching over the break and oh shit we're at an out-of-control rave in marseilles.

unfortunately the only people i've heard follow up on this (this is from 94 mind you) are these guys Jess & Crabbe on Fiat Lux. their track "bad trooperz" starts out with an "apocalypse now" sample over horny dancehall and ends up at kms-style hoover bass farts over helicopter beats under an actual helicopter. mad stuff, unfortunately nothing else on Fiat Lux sounds like these guys.

we're quite overdue for (this style of) jungle/house soundclash.

I want the old pansoul thing, I actually never have but it reminds me that Trax On Da Rocks 1 by Thomas Bangalter on Roule is a fantastically banging and darkish french house/techno record.

ronan i've been lurking but when the new kompakt mixes get to san diego that'll all change.

Any help naming the song would be appreciated.

Teenage Bad Girl - Ghost House

Justice - Waters Of Nazareth

I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu I believe in yooooooouuuuuuuuuuu

where are the filterhouse dj sets??

but i cant find it anywhere for sale any more, apparently being a full year too late.

also, didnt know siegbran was still around?

I'm still around.

I've even started making my own filterhouse cause I need more! That heavy compression + big kick(when it's done RIGHT) is like a hot injection of some interstellar space dust drug...

But yeah, I've said it so much it's almost spam but "HIGH ON" is the summer in outer space jam for all time

actually, did anyone hear that kris menace "stars on 33" thing that came out last year? that was mega-filtered.

I: CUBE 'CHICAGO SUR SEINE'

DJ Kittles - Brasil EP

http://www.junodownload.com/products/1232966-02.htm

this is almost too much fun.

Vahid I've been listening to those Jess & Crabbe live on Cassius FM mixes again. So amazing. The beginning of the second disc that starts with that fantastic (who is it?) remix of "Killer", then goes into Romanthony, and then "Take Me With You"... Wow.

I just picked up "Bad Trooperz" on secondhand vinyl. Great stuff.

Anyone mention Motorbass 'Pansoul' and those Superdiscount 12s?
I feel like a lot of the filtering is drawn from a few chicago &
detroit records. Paperclip People 'Throw' in particular, though
filtering is a trick thats been used since disco djs hit the decks.

I just tried to search for any mentions of Impulsion on ILX and only came up with an offhand reference to their greatness from Donut, who I know also loves The Micronauts, which is the group that Christophe Monier concentrated on after the Impulsion album Love Addict came out in 1998. (strangely I've never heard the Micronauts' album Bleep to Bleep even though it's a discount bin staple)

Anyways, Impulsion: I read a review of Love Addict way back in 1999 that said it was amazing and compared it favourably to Remedy. At the time it was harder to track down music not released in my country than it is now, and after a desultory search I gave up. I've thought of them later on from time to time and wondered what they were like, but never enough to do anything about my ignorance.

But I just picked up a secondhand vinyl copy of the single "The Trip" and it is the awesomeness, totally the sort of crazy dark french house I was talking about on this thread many years ago, but bleeding into jaxx/new horizons style, er, wonky punk garage, which is probably the style I most want to revive at the moment. I love the Van Helden style camp flashy agression of the snare patterns.

Also recently picked up Monier's Rockers Delight: The Rock Sound of Darkest Paris, which is a Monier retrospective (1990-1996) cunningly disguised as a compilation. It's neither as rocky, nor, TBH, as pivotal as it would like to pretend. But it's worth the price of admission for Dr. Love & Nature's "La Nouvelle", another classic slice of french house going into the dark void.

Any other recommendations along these lines?

Tim "The Trip" is crazy

tim i think there's a certain value to the fact that "rocker's delight" is not terribly pivotal or crucial. in a certain way, it's better for its anonymity.

ha ha ha ha HOLY SHIT i'm quoted on monier's website

http://christophemonier.free.fr/RockersDelight/PressKit.htm#vahid17/9/2003

That's great Vahid - those reviews one writes when not writing a review are always best. I should note that I think Rocker's Delight is excellent - I even picked it up on CD as well. But the whole marketing strategy reminds me of those false compilations you see called "Hottest Jungle" or the like which then have no artist names, and as you peer at it you suddenly realise this a single artist trying to cash in on consumer dilettantism.

Any feedback on the Monier/Micronauts double disc retrospective released last year?

Glad you like "The Trip" deej.

lol moonship quoted saying "Holy poo"

holy shit how have i either never heard Patrick Alavi 'Power' before or did but completely forgot about it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zMmUe_iAg

another one that got past me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DimokKPyeH0

fuck yea that was my jam in '05. so killer. lifelike could use an "Idiosyncrasies"-esque comp

yes. 'Sequencer' also pretty nice

i just got some stuff from a young buck named Laberge. from vancouver, only 22. not bad, methinks : http://www.myspace.com/lbrg .

REVIVE because I've been listening back through the l'age d'or and seeing what still appeals after all this time.

Demon vs. Heartbreaker "You Are My High" still brings the shivers. That little high synth line in the verse just rips my heart out still! Also interesting to have a fresh listen to the Vitalic "remix." Basically a whole new track, eh? I can't access Discogs from here, but if I recall it came out before the Poney EP. Or at least around the exact same time. Interesting in retrospect to see that dude's trajectory from there.

The two Waves comps. Both great. Still lean a bit in favor of II. The highs of the mix are just so good. "Carnivale," "Loaded." Whatever happened to Archigram. A never-released Madonna remix from like '05 and then crickets. Bummer.

Together, "Together." A tune even some of my not-into-dance friends can't deny. Once I got it my head that the bassline is essentially the 90210 theme, it's hard to NOT hear that, though!

Ettiene De Crecy, Tempovision. Great great album. Lotsa nuance in the production and Lotsa good melancholy flowing through it. And that 11 minute closer could go on for another 11.

Bangalter's Tracks On Da Rox and some of the Irreversible sdtk stuff. At its best (and darkest) it's like V said 8 years ago: "oh the night is never going to end"

Anyone pulling any of this stuff out lately?

nice greatest hits tracklist here from joakim on beats in space:

1. DJ Mehdi - Bless - Ed Banger Records
2. Motorbass - Fabulous (Pansoul)
3. Crackboy - Red Scare - Tigersushi
4. Ana Rago - You're God (I:Cube Remix) -
5. Bot'Ox - Tragedy Symphony - I'm A Cliche
6. Speedy J & Issakidis - Culture
7. Jess & Crabbe - F9 Riot Squad
8. Mooloodjee - Way Of Love - Poumtchak 7
9. Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team - Strange Touch (My House)
10. Pepe Bradock - Life
11. Poni Hoax - The Bride Is On Fire (Chloé Remix) - Tigersushi
12. It's A Fine Line - Bachbeat - Marketing
13. The Hacker - Night Drive - Tigersushi
14. Thirdwave - Thru The Time (Julien Jabre Remix) - Basenotic Records
15. Soha - Les Enfants Du Bled - Yellow Productions
16. Cassius - Dinapoly
17. Mr Oizo - Minuteman's Pulse - Ed Banger Records
18. Thomas Bangalter - Spinal Scratch -
19. Canblaster - Stoned Totem
20. Laurent Garnier - Crispy Bacon - F Com
21. Cosmo Vitelli - J'Insiste - Solid
22. Principles Of Geometry - Enoma - Tigersushi

http://www.beatsinspace.net/playlists/622

call on meeeeeeeeeeee, call on me

The two mixes I've been listening to most the past two weeks or so are Daft Punk's Essential Selection from New Years Day 1999, and Jess & Crabbe Live at The Rex 2001.

Essential Selection Tracklist:

Daft Punk – ‘Wdpk 199 Greetings’ (Daft Trax)
Bassment Jaxx – ‘Rendez Vu’ (Xl Recordings)
Mike Delgado – ‘Upstairs Lounge’ (Henry Street)
Daddy’s Favourite – ‘I Feel Good Things For You’ (Go Beat)
Bassment Jaxx – ‘Dreamzdub’ (Xl Recordings)
Whirlpool Productions – ‘Disco To Disco (Original Album Mix)’ (Sum)
Lonnie Liston Smith – ‘Garden Of Peace’ (White Label)
Artist Unknown – ‘The Death Of Jack (Accapella)’ (Dj Essentials)
Artist Unknown – ‘In The Beginning (Accapella)’ (Dj Essentials)
Joe Smooth – ‘The Promised Land’ (Dj International)
First Choice Vs Johnnick – ‘Player’ (White Label)
Todd Edwards – ‘Mantra’ (Ultra)
Brandi & Monica – ‘The Boy Is Mine (Remix)’ (White Label)
Forget About The World – ‘Gabrielle (Daft Punk Mix)’ (Go Beat)
First Choice Vs Johnnick – ‘Player (Remix)’ (White Label)
Joe Smooth – ‘The Promised Land (Radio Mix)’ (Dj International)
R&B Accapellas – ‘Is It Good To You’ (White Label)
Stardust – ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ (Roule)
Stardust – ‘Music Sounds Better With You (Bibi & Dimitri’s Mix)’ (Roule)
Scott Grooves – ‘Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Mix)’ (Soma)
Alan Braxe – ‘Vertigo (Thomas Bangalter’s Virgo Edit)’ (Roule)
Beastie Boys – ‘Intergalactic (Alan Braxe Mix)’ (White Label)
Bassment Jaxx – ‘Red Alert’ (Xl Recordings)
Green Velvet – ‘Preacherman’s Accapella’ (Relief)
The Bucketheads – ‘The Bomb’ (Henry Street)
Artist Unknown – ‘Got Myself Together’ (White Label)
Nick Holder – ‘Greatest Dancer (Remix)’ (K7)
Daddy’s Favourite – ‘I Feel Good Things For You (Alan Braxe Mix 2)’ (Go Beat)
Spiller – ‘Batacuda’ (Peppermint Jam)
Cheek Venus – ‘Sunshine People (Dj Gregory’s Mix)’ (Versatile)
Victor Simonelli – ‘Another Seven’ (West Side Records)
Classic Accapellas – ‘My Loletta’ (White Label)
Cassius – ’1999′ (Virgin)
Marshall Jefferson – ‘Move Your Body’ (Trax)
Stevie Wonder – ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ (Motown)
Armand Van Helden – ‘You Don’t Know Me’ (Ffrr)
Nu Yorican Soul – ‘Runaway (Accapella)’ (Talkin Loud/Giant Step)
Daft Punk – ‘Revolution 909′ (Virgin)
Nu Yorican Soul – ‘Runaway (Armand Van Helden Mix)’ (Talkin Loud/Giant Step)
Edie Amador – ‘House Music’ (Yooshi)
Cunnie Williams – ‘Saturday’ (Peppermint Jam)

Not all French House but in some ways the mix captures the vibe perfectly precisely because it ranges so widely.

Jess&Crabbe-Live @ Rex 04-25-01.mp3 <- is this it, tim?

Yes.

here's the tracklist fyi

jess & crabbe - warlords
daft punk - crescendolls
?? - ??
da mongoloids - spark da meth (bangin like a benzi mix)
jess & crabbe - jonny clash
jess & crabbe - council
jess & crabbe - the big booya
dj sneak & armand van helden - psychic bounty killaz pt 1
jess & crabbe - ruff inna jungle
jess & crabbe - monkey soca
jess & crabbe - can't tekkit
UH HUH I LIKE IT UH HUH I LIKE IT
basement jaxx, i think

is the daft punk mix going to make me smile as much as the tracklist does?

YES.

I'm very excited to play it over the speakers at work. Should cheer everyone up on a miserable Friday.

This mix may have already been mentioned upthread, but it's still an all time fave:

http://www.feelmybicep.com/2009/08/28/nik-muzka-french-house-mix/

Sebastian Leger – Victory (Lifelike Flashing Victory Vision)
Daft Punk – Around the World (KILLDAHYPE Remix)
Roy Davis Jr. – Rock Shock (Thomas Bangalter’s Start-Stop Mix)
The Eternals – Wrath of Zeus
Stars On 33 – I Feel Music In Your Heart (7 Inch Mix)
Cassius – Feeling For You (Les Rh D Mix)
Daft Punk – Crescendolls
Cosmos – Take Me With You (Extended Club Mix)
Daft Punk – High Life
Together – Together
Jamiroquai – Runaway (Alan Braxe and Fred Falke Remix)
Etienne De Crecy – Am I Wrong
For The Floorz -Time Limited
Hystereo – Gly
Automatic & Silk – Always Be There
Raw Man – Number Seven (Le Knight Club Remix)
Kelis – Bossy (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)
Cassius – La Mouche (Dj Falcon vs Choo Choo Romero Mix)
Aloud – Sex & Sun Part III
Daft Punk – Fresh
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke – Horizon
K.I.M. – Wet ‘N Wild (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
Sedat – The Turkish Avenger
Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better (Buffalo Bunch Remix)
Raw Man – Across The Universe
Raw Man – Warning
Le Knight Club – Soul Bells
DJ Falcon – Honeymoon
Alan Braxe vs Bob Sinclair – Running Into I Feel For You
For The Floorz – Body Angel
Armand Van Helden – I Want Your Soul (Fake Blood Remix)
Daft Mafia – Superstar
Le Knight Club – Hysteria
Midnight Juggernauts – 45 And Rising
Daft Punk – Revolution 909
Jess and Crabbe – In Your Ear
Deelat – Wetness Anthem
Patrick Alavi – The End
Archigram – Carnaval (Bring Back The Rave Mix)
Daft Punk – Superheroes
Le Knight Club – Rhumba (T-West’s For The Floorz Edit)
Together – So Much Love To Give (Daft Mafia Rework)
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke – Love Lost
Matt Hughes – You’re One Of Us (Daft Mafia Edit)
Pete Heller – Big Love
Demon VS Heartbreaker – You Are My High
Jungle Brothers – Freakin’ You Baby (Buffalo Bunch Remix)
JJ Flores & Steve Smooth – Time For Love
Hystereo – Resistance
Daddy’s Favorite – I Feel Good Things For You
Hystereo – Winters In The City
Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Alyoa – It’s Been Too Long (Lifelike Top Gun Mix)
Superfunk – The Young MC
Daft Punk – One More Time
Hystereo – Deale
Boys Noize – Shine Shine
Cassius – 1999
Alan Braxe – Rubicon (Feat. Fred Falke)
Benjamin Diamond – We Gonna Make It (Alan Braxe Mix)
Fred Falke & Savage – Wait For Love
Daft Punk – Around The World
Scuola Furano – CRY-DA-MAGIC
Aloud Feat. Raw Man – Los Angeles Resurrection
Daft Mafia – I Feel So
The Bucketheads – The Bomb (Armand Van Helden Remix)
DJ Mehdi – Signatune (Thomas Bangalter Edit)
Mylo – Peach Melba
Paraone – Midnight Swim (Surkin Drowning Mix)
Daft Punk – Phoenix
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You
Armand Van Helden – You Don’t Even Know Me
Lifelike – Adventure
Plus Move – Boss
Lifelike & Kris Menace – Discopolis
Daft Punk – Face to Face
Fred Falke & Savage – Omega Man
Justice – Stress

is there a good rip of the essential mix floating around?

That Muzka mix may not be perfectly assembled but it sounded amazing on the bus to work as the sun was shining this morning. I live in hope of re-issues of everything from Crydamoure, Roule and We Rock Music, sometimes this stuff is just the greatest stuff in the world.

all the crydamoure stuff is available digitally

wait, a second, no it's not. did i dream that?

:(