The man, the maestro, the mystery..... the Cube! That's right, you read that correctly, new music from the mind of one of Europe's freshest, not just one record, but two. At the same time. Right here. Versatile's main man (alongside Monsieur Gilb'R) returns to the fray with a hotly anticipated set of tracks that will surely stand alone in their uniqueness, but if you're reading this then you already know that. I:Cube has been busy, and he's keen to share the fruits of his labour with lucky us on this, the 120th release on Versatile. The sounds here are diverse, impeccably mixed, arranged and selected by the man himself and will surely find their way into the ears and minds of those who come into close contact effortlessly. From the late night cosmic-balearic feel of the first track 'Flutes Souterraines' to the acid indigestion inducing fingering of the 'Troglo Dance' to the deep cavernous bass-line creepings of 'Ramurc', this collection of six stellar cuts is a stunning return to form and a perfect example of why I:Cube should be regarded as one of the legends! Vive La Versatile! More

I:Cube delivers 5 pieces of music to suit different moods and activities quite different from his usual style, with an emphasis on contemplative and haunting dense soundscapes.Please take some time to listen, and enjoy the experience. Try this in the dark
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90's head honcho support steakhouse fat killer analog soulfull helvetica massive old school big huge veteran deep promo superb dark reminder tribute true limited future new raw acid feedback balearic bleep. Please adjust the level of this bleep only version to the level of the A1.CRYPTOPORTICUS track so it doesn't sound too loud. The mix was tricky to do because of the various sound sources. My attempt was to glue everything by recording the master onto a nagra tape machine, then back to digital. Please try to make it sound as if everything is coming out from the same source (like a band playing). Getting rid of the muddiness in the bass but still keeping it firm and solid in the mid bass range whilst maintaining the drums punch.`

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I:Cube for Jam sessions with Pilooski edit

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Usually, the purpose of a piece like this is to tell other writers, music mag editors, distribution people and record shop clerks why they should like a certain release and buys, hype, review it. Often these encomiums are not really honest and sometimes you even feel like attending an attempt to sell a flat tire. As for I:Cube’s new longplayer „M“ Megamix things are – of course! – very different. Being its fifth solo album, an introduction of the man like Nicolas Chaix or even his biography (another popular brick of sales sheets) seems rather unsuitable. If you don’t know what you should know, just use your Internet search engine with any of these terms: Chateau Flight, Versatile Records, French Touch, Disco Cubizm or Parisian prodigy.Anyway, „M“ Megamix is nothing short of his magnum opus. Aptly titled, it is an assortment of all things that make (electronic) dance music or what you think it is enjoyable. I:Cube himself will be the first to tell you that the creation of a coherent album full of dance music tunes is comparable to Sisyphus’ pain. It is just impossible. Music that is primarily made for DJs and for people that like to dance needs a format that is closer to the site of its performance. In a strike of genius this album bridges the gap between a mixtape, an album and a live recording. Paying tribute to the rampant short-term attention span it is woven together in an impromptu one way take and without any sequencing preparation. “M” Megamix carries 24 tracks that sometimes play longer, sometimes only appear for a brief flash, but always leave you longing for more and grabs you from the first moment on.The result? It feels like your favourite DJ mix cassette with a ton of tracks that you always wanted identified and never could get your hands on. Including all the three tracks of I:Cube’s latest 12-inch effort “Lucifer En Discotheque”, it builds around those three tracks and all those little details and big elements he is famous and loved for. House and techno exchange their DNA strands, you will find traces of dance music past, present and future, hints of disco loops, Italo ballads, French romanticism, a love for the ruff, the tuff and the tender and the more or less the complete I:Cube personal music history between his record and studio shelves.I could do you journalists a favour now and name check all the influences, stimuli and blueprints that I catch here, but that would make your work all too easy and take away from Chaix’ very own gifted talent. All that is left to say is that “M” Megamix makes me want to listen again, again and again. I:Cube, I salute you.

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Following the "Lucifer en discotheque" E.P, I:Cube delivers a new 12 inch containing longer dj friendly versions of " Y.O.U.R.O.C.K", " Popular Electronics", and "In Alpha" (all from his new album "M" Megamix) Expect some more cubismatic brillance ! More

After 3 years of hibernation, Golem is back ! The monster was reactivated. After listening his new EP "Lucifer En Discothèque", he decided to kidnapp I:Cube, brought him in his cavern and ask him to do special edits to make him dance. That's the real genesis of this 7th episod of Golem adventure : "I:Cube presents Cubo Edits".On Side A, I:Cube took what its seems to be an italo track to turn in in a slow pitched house monster with a strong climax...It's followed by the track "A Bicyclette", a cosmico-romantic trip with french lyrics...But the Golem wanted more...really more... That's why on side B you can find first "Piano In Paradisio". As you guess, a real piano house anthem which will bring you back in the late 80's House Music golden age era. And last but not least, this new episod ends with "You Dance So Well", a real floor filler cosmic/synth wave hyptnotic track sung in german.

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It's been a while since I:Cube hasn't deliver some fresh cuts,:was he lost in a software???he's back(a new album is also scheduled)to his early naive,deep and twisted spirit,but with a super tight modern production... Falling is a sleazy funk track,a slow burner,who contains all the elements who made I:Cube one of the most respected and innovative producers around since more than a decade ...Heavy groove,hypno bassline,references to the early disco-dub music."Un dimanche sans fin"(neverending sunday) was done(as its name says)a sunday night, one shot,at the Versatile studio.Cube reconnects with his seminal dub-techno love;a track full of space and emotion.I would describe Operation hypnosis as Sheffield house.A solid beat and some bleeps will bring the dancer into a mental spiral...

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RE-ISSUE: ICube 12" with a oldschool mix by VACUUM JACKERS and great takes from MAURICE FULTON and DIXON More

New on Born Bad Records! French elektronica outfit Zombie Zombie is fifteen years old now, or 90 years in group-years (multiply by six: more than a cat, less than a dog). That would have been enough to rest on their laurels, with an Old Fashioned in each hand. But no: they went for full-on fat and a reverberated doomy elektro orgy. This time some choirwork hints at the arrangements of David Axelrod or Ennio Morricone, but still here's everything we love about Zombie Zombie, starting with their musical know-how, and the trio's musical tastes, which covers 95% of the styles listed by Discogs. Decidedly, Vae Vobis is not your average 122 bpm banger party soundtrack, although we are looking forward to seeing what DJs can do with Nusquam and Ubique" on a drunk crowd in tie-and-dye gowns. It's a well-balanced alum, worth listening to in one go, to let each trap-of-a-track work its magic. E.g. Ring Modulus, which, under its strong structure, houses extended vocal-technique ornaments. Or Aurora, a megalomaniac jewel cut to open the circus games, the brass section of Dr Schönberg and Etienne Jaumet plays it peplum style. But let your ears marvel at Dissolutum, Consortium and the remainig tracks as well. Also digging backwards in the italo-disco crates, ZOMBIE ZOMBIE ended up in antiquity.
TRACKLISTING: 01. INTROITUS 02. VAE VOBIS 03. NUSQUAM ET UNIQUE 04. RING MODULUS 05. AURORA 06. LACRYMOSA 07. DISSOLOTUM 08. WAR IS COMING 09. LUX IN TENEBRIS 10. MODUS OPERANDI 11. EREBUS 12. CONSORTIUM More

Wolf Müller & Versatile label head Gilb’R give the remix treatment to Zombie Zombie’s “Hippocampe” - the first track from their recent “Livity” LP. A long time fan of the band, Jan Schulte (under his Wolf Müller alias), delivers 2 interpretations of the track, combining heavy Krautrock influences à la Can with a distinctive b-boy twist. Gilb’R takes “Hippocampe” in a more minimalistic direction, with heavy drums laying the basis for a dubbed out journey More

Slow futur was the name of the live soundtrack of Zombie Zombie for a juggling company. An add project that we decided to release some months ago, consisting in 4 tracks of 15 minutes. We were suprisingly sold out very quick. So we decided to give that record a longer life having some new mixes of one the track : Hyperspace. Tolouse Low Trax is all around the place at the moment. The amazing resident dj at Salon des amareurs in Dusseldorf provides a kind of sleazy remix here,that never really starts but subtlelly evolves while I:Cube brings it in the dub territories, in a lush mood. Enfin, Gilb'R provides a little reprise,putting the percussions in the front for a tropical effect. More

Original music of the "Slow Futur" show by Elsa Guérin and Martin Palisse, played and composed by Zombie Zombie (Cosmic Neman, Etienne Jaumet, Dr Schonberg), here presented separately from the show.The music of Zombie Zombie, repetitive and floating, as a vector of the choreographic mechanic, mixes analog electronic sounds and acoustic rhythms that rise in intensity in order to bring the two jugglers into a frantic and hypnotic rush, whereas the treadmill submits their bodies to a movement independent of their will, so becoming an infernal machine. Between abstraction and representation of reality, Slow Futur questions the relationships between human beings, where the individualism caused by the modern world leads to loneliness, as the human condition is reduced to a simple machine which robotic movements are devoid of emotion. Elsa Guérin and Martin Palisse are not only renewing the image of today’s circus but also continuing their research on the choreographic, dramatic and poetic potential of juggling. More

Here is the second extract of the Zombie Zombie new lp "Rituels d'un Nouveau Monde". In addition of the original mix, we asked few friends to take care of the remixes. Dj Sotofett, the man behind the great Sex Tags Mania label, delivers 14 mn of pleasure, in a Moodymann fashion. Funk break,
deep chords, amazing break using the synths of the original..On the other side, the french blocks from Discodeine are giving other vision of a club orientated mix. Strange delays heavy beats and tropical stabs. More

Thank God they didn't wait as long as I:Cube to make their new album, it took only 4 years! But now,this is ready.The new Zombie Zombie album, "Rituels" will be released early october. They have been touring quite a lot, expanding their killer reputation playing live… and stopped in the Joakim studio,w ho produced their new opus. As a first single,Rocket number 9 is a cover of the mighty Sun Ra, sung by the zombie zombie themselves. On the remix front,we obviously asked Joakim to do a cool 808 rework, and to the new Techno rising star outta France, Gesaffelstein, who delivered a 117 bpm rave anthem!!! it caused damages wherever it has been played by our crew..HEAVY, for real..

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Here is part two of Etienne Jaumet’s dubs from his latest new album, '8 regard obliques'. Following on from part one with DJ Sotofett and I:Cube, DJ Athome (from the Belgian 'Front de Cadeaux') turns the jazz classic, 'Caravan' into a slow 90's breakbeat oddball whilst Jaumet himself revisits his own 'Ma révélation mystique' in a more Reggae fashion. More

Being in a different place and a different studio context changed some things for Gilb’R. The Versatile boss and half of Château Flight selected these 8 tracks, some short, some longer, from his studio sessions in Amsterdam where he has been living for the past 5 years. Reflections of the mind of Gilb’R and thus exploring many sides, from late night techno to West Indies non sense vocals, from dubby/moody sounds to ambient scapes. More

Any historians keen on the subject of "French youth in the 1980s" are holding a treasure in their hands. As a true archaeologist of this decade dedicated to disposable culture, digger-in-chief Vidal Benjamin with his newest compilation, 'Pop Sympathie', offers them a unique journey in the heart of the cyclone of emotions that struck all teenagers during the first seven years of François Mitterrand's mandate. Fifteen musical nuggets, exhumed from the dungeons of history, each and every one of them teaching us about what really obsessed the youngsters at that exact moment, i.e. what happens when the city lights come on at dusk, when irrepressible urges that stir them to get lost even more appear until the end of the night. The artists gathered here did not have the honour of breaking into the local charts, but they all individually reached for the sky. Each song of 'Pop Sympathie' tells more or less the same story: that of a girl who throws herself into the night like one immerses one's self into the void, who rushes into a one-night adventure to become a star. And too bad if in the early morning she finds herself back at square one. In all these miniature odysseys there is neon lights, lasers, smoke machines, broken glass on checkered tiles, strangers on leather benches, celebrities in the bathrooms, stolen kisses, alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, Polaroids, venetian blinds and radioactive tubes. More

Versatile presents part one of a two-part 7 inch series featuring dub versions of selected tracks from Etienne Jaumet's latest album, "8 regards obliques", in which he gathered and covered his personal jazz favourites. The first volume sees DJ Sotofett turn 'Unity' into a proper digi dub on the A-side, whilst on the flip I:Cube revisits Miles Davis' classic, 'In A Silent Way', turning it into a stellar 135bpm version. More

Remixes » is a meeting of French electronic champions. ?French Touch veterans I:Cube and Chateau Flight, trendsetting DJ Raphael Top Secret and newcomers Flegon provide us with remixes of the autumn released LP « Sphere Of Existence » by Antoine Kogut. Where the LP explored atmospheric and experimental pop, « Remixes » gives us a perfect four tracker that is made for the dancefloor. On side A, Chateau Flight transforms the title track « Sphere Of Existence » into a 90’s Italo house banger while I:Cube does what he does best in his unexpected dub version.? On the B side, Raphael Top Secret reworks « Current density » into a Hip House track full of jaunty vibrations and newcomer band/label Flegon fulfilled their goal of working with their all time favorite French Touch pioneer label Versatile giving us a Nu-Disco remix of the song « L ‘oeillet noir ». More

In a time when Jazz music is entering a contemporary renaissance and exciting the ears and minds of new audiences, Zombie Zombie's Étienne Jaumet offers us his unique, idiosyncratic take on the sound with the sprawling “8 Regards Obliques”, his 3rd solo album with the Versatile label. Jazz requires a certain freedom of technique, interpretation and improvisation that already matches Jaumet’s own production style and sonic aesthetic as well as his playful approach towards music. The eight pieces that make up the new LP were very quickly recorded; Jaumet let himself be carried away by the atmosphere without focusing too much on fine details or the laborious aspects of the composition process. The finished article is a spontaneous collection that stands out, a true mirror image of the creative process adopted by the artist. Not surprisingly, spontaneity is one of the characteristics already present in his music, in both his recorded output and his live happenings, where he leaves much room for freedom and improvisation. “8 Regards Obliques” was recorded at the Versatile studio in less than 3 weeks with quite a basic set up: TR 808, selected synthesizers, vocals and of course the saxophone, which is a constant presence also in his previous albums. For the mix Etienne has again appealed to the maestro I:Cube, a central figure of the Versatile story and a prodigious engineer and artist in his own right. He immediately understood that it was necessary to keep the spontaneous side alive and to not over-produce the pieces or over-edit them, being constantly mindful to retain the power in the sound and in the frequencies. From Sun Ra with “Nuclear war”, Miles Davis in “Shhh / Peaceful” or “Theme from a symphony” by Ornette Coleman to “Caravan” (already quoted by many jazzmen), Etienne enjoyed revisiting classic masterpieces and paying tribute to his inspirations. He allowed himself only one personal and original composition, “Ma révélation mystique”. More

5 would be the key number for the brand new Chateau Flight release on Versatile. It's been 5 years since the last release and it took 5 days to record. Nicolas (I:Cube) was busy with his own material, I moved to Amsterdam 3 years ago and as we like to make music in the same space. It took a bit of time but finally it's here; the Dam House EP. I invited Nicolas to visit me last winter, not to do music but just for a cool A’Dam hang out. This turned into 5 intense days of fun production in my studio. It was amazing for both of us to witness how our connection remained intact after all those years and the ideas came really quick. The vibes of the tracks all turned out pretty different, it's a true Chateau Flight kaleidoscope with an epic 10mn Techno track Sargan, a more House vibe, Crazy (Dam House mix), a heavy dark funk drive of Lo and the ambient Crazy(Ambient mix). This record would have not been the same without Redlight records,to whom this record s dedicated. James and Abel left their shop open at night just for us and as children in a candy store we went through the racks looking for samples that formed the inspiration for this ep. More

The man, the maestro, the mystery..... the Cube! That's right, you read that correctly, new music from the mind of one of Europe's freshest, not just one record, but two. At the same time. Right here. Versatile's main man (alongside Monsieur Gilb'R) returns to the fray with a hotly anticipated set of tracks that will surely stand alone in their uniqueness, but if you're reading this then you already know that. I:Cube has been busy, and he's keen to share the fruits of his labour with lucky us on this, the 120th release on Versatile. The sounds here are diverse, impeccably mixed, arranged and selected by the man himself and will surely find their way into the ears and minds of those who come into close contact effortlessly. From the late night cosmic-balearic feel of the first track 'Flutes Souterraines' to the acid indigestion inducing fingering of the 'Troglo Dance' to the deep cavernous bass-line creepings of 'Ramurc', this collection of six stellar cuts is a stunning return to form and a perfect example of why I:Cube should be regarded as one of the legends! Vive La Versatile! More

Wolf Müller & Versatile label head Gilb’R give the remix treatment to Zombie Zombie’s “Hippocampe” - the first track from their recent “Livity” LP. A long time fan of the band, Jan Schulte (under his Wolf Müller alias), delivers 2 interpretations of the track, combining heavy Krautrock influences à la Can with a distinctive b-boy twist. Gilb’R takes “Hippocampe” in a more minimalistic direction, with heavy drums laying the basis for a dubbed out journey More

Pierre Bastien is a French legend that has collaborated with artists such as Robert Wyatt, Jac Berrocal and Jaki Liebezeit, to name just a few. He is also very well known for his compositions based on home-made mechanical instruments, designed and constructed by Bastien himself. Pure DIY. Using these instruments he would create a heady experimental mix incorporating poetry and some far-out music, all in all very intriguing and original indeed. Needless to say when the notion of Pierre Bastien and Versatile Records potentially making a project together arose, it was a total honour! Throw into the mix esteemed electro-acoustic composer Eddie Ladoire and now we've really got something interesting. Eddie and Pierre met when they appeared on the same concert bill together and they decided to collaborate further with Versatile being the platform for the fruits of this particular project. The original version of 'Phantom Dance' is a beautiful piece where Bastien plays a trumpet into some water blended with electronic drums and mellow organs lines, creating an otherworldly, subterranean Jazz vibe for the freaks. Suzanne Kraft, the LA native / Amsterdam based producer turns the original into some mechanical broken funk vibes while Rotterdam's Oceanic delivers 2 fresh, reimagined versions. One for for the club with a strong afro beat feel while the other one is a slower affair for the after hours. Both mixes bringing something new to the table. A truly original and interesting release from some very talented people, for those with open ears and open minds! More

I discovered Benoit B through his own label - Banlieue records. He’s part of a new breed of young French producers who make music without any hang-ups and that are inspired by the entire history of House and Techno and everything in-between. I liked the combination of club beats with a deep, super melodic approach. The 6 tracks featured here almost make up an entire album that reflects Benoit’s skills and sense of production. Everything is here -from Ambient experiments to heavyweight club tracks and beyond. Here, bear witness to the new sound of France (even though he lives in Berlin!) More

Monster Fritalo tune featuring John Cravache on vocals and piano, produced by partner in crime I:Cube. Same version as on the " CITES NOMADES " LP, but now ready to be played out loud in the discothèques and fun fairs. More

Alma Vox is an eccentric Parisian combo, they gave us this little 7-inch without much explanation, and we were instantly drawn by its hazy poetical pop appeal.
The A side covers the famous French 80's song ‘Toi mon toit', by Elli Medeiros, adding a sensual neurasthenic disco twist, yet danceable and fun. 'Theme II' on the B-side, has a mid-tempo reggae/funk mood combined with some ecstatic emotional chords. Perfect for a cliché-freeMediterranean sunset, this tune has already worked wonders on various discerning dance floors. Both tracks have been mixed by I:Cube, who added his unique sound to great effect. More

Slow futur was the name of the live soundtrack of Zombie Zombie for a juggling company. An add project that we decided to release some months ago, consisting in 4 tracks of 15 minutes. We were suprisingly sold out very quick. So we decided to give that record a longer life having some new mixes of one the track : Hyperspace. Tolouse Low Trax is all around the place at the moment. The amazing resident dj at Salon des amareurs in Dusseldorf provides a kind of sleazy remix here,that never really starts but subtlelly evolves while I:Cube brings it in the dub territories, in a lush mood. Enfin, Gilb'R provides a little reprise,putting the percussions in the front for a tropical effect. More

Mystery, poetry, a play of masks: artistic creation according to John Cravache. His collaboration with Versatile dates back to the beginning of the millennium. A childhood friend of I:Cube, he is 44 years old, lives in a Paris suburb, and is not a professional artist. Getting involved in writing, he has been boasting his artistic and economic independence and his crafty attitude outside of the industrial system. He gave himself time to invent a personal world, wild and funny, which eventually gave birth to the album "Cités Nomades". Even though his influences are quite varied and avant-garde (Magma, Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits), they did not really affect this unclassifiable project. Poetry and mystery come before all, because John Cravache is appearing masked. John Cravache and Nicolas Chaix (I:Cube) have recorded radio creations since the early 90s, in particular for Chimère FM in Paris, as well as numerous long improvised music sessions. At the approach of the millennium, they embarked on the creation of an album that was not completed until sixteen (!) years later. John is a poet, accomplished pianist, and registered truck driver and Nicolas, a self-taught musician, have both made the realisation of "Cités nomades" possible. This is not an ironic pop album, this album is simply all you want. Listening will do you much good. More

This track has been in my computer since a little while when Dj Sotofett joined me here in Amsterdam, to play an epic back to back at The School (amazing new club here). When I am doing a track, it could go to a lot of different directions as i'm jamming them for hours in my Pipe studio. I sometimes could get lost. So i asked Sotofett to join me in the studio to help to finish it. Then we ended with those 2 versions of Cham, which are, as often when i work with the Sextags man, the result of live takes almost unedited. We also add some percussions from Shadi Khries and we recorded two versions of the same track within hours. One being bass driven with a lot of psychedelic noises and the other one more space-Techno. Our adventures continues…here is another slice of spaced out music.hope you'll enjoy.
Gilb'r - Versatile Records More