Picture this – the light in the room has moved into the golden hour, where the sunlight sits so easy on the walls, soaking up the wooden floors, illuminating the plants, and making the crystals in the drink feel that oh-so sweet. The wavelengths that reverberate around the room flow into the sun-drenched evening sky, blue and warm to the touch, easing the mind as smiles abound on those all around the floor. All this and more can be found in the expertly curated vibe that is KX9000’s ‘The Sofa Lamp’ EP, the latest perfected atmosphere from Oath sub-label Last Year in Marienbad.

KX9000 is the primary alias of Kerim Ben Mustapha, who for a good while now has been serving up the kinds of Jazz tinged, softly undulating dance-y cuts that expertly nail the orange hues that frequent the finer moments in life, regardless of whether its the hottest dance floor or a fun-fuelled home exercusion. His previous efforts have all impressed, with a finely stuck balance found between rhythm and melodic features. Mustapha’s framework picks from a wide range of motifs, all of which touch upon a number of cornerstones within the contemporary electronic melting pot. What comes out of the process is a sound that is elegant, effortless and infectious, cutting through pre-conceived contexts and aligning itself with the mood that comes from people being together. His previous efforts cover it all – the peak time, the down times and that middle ground that simply gets things going, its dance music that is both emotionally and rhythmically intuitive, and as you dive deeper there is always more to be elaborated on and enjoyed.

‘The Sofa Lamp’ is the next serving that Mustapha has come to the surface with, and it has all the hallmarks of his established sound, but with plenty of scopes bolted on that make this a throughly well-rounded and delectable audial experience. The EP spends no time messing about, with the opener ‘Sauce Pepe’ throwing itself right into the mix, with its engrossing percussive palette doing much to get the vibrations flowing. The bass line adds weight whilst the melodic outlay that develops up top consists of jazz laden chords, snazzy horns and deep set chordal patterns, and its easy to say this will be doing the rounds come summer. ‘Locha’ arrives next, which features Cosmonection, and this one kicks the tempo up a little bit. The beat swings expertly, providing a basis for a grooving bass line to meander through the bottom ends, all the while sun-kissed chords lap over the top with such feverishness. The layers are collated and managed for maximum effectiveness, with the breaks provided allowing for those bona fide hands-in-the-air moments. ‘April’, which features man of the moment Tour Maubourg, keeps the rhythmic flavours flowing from the previous effort, with the emotive quality of the chords traveling deep into the neurons. The gorgeous lead line adds a ear worm that will last for days, and with that the key ingredients persist for an inspired dip into the dance. Last but not least, ‘Everw*day’ caps off the experience with purpose and emotional presence, with the music operating beautifully been expansive deep house notions and the rhythms of Balaeria – it does much to leave a long-lasting impression on those who encounter this collection of tunes, and we for one feel all the richer for sticking by it for these four excellent cuts.

If enriching environmental dance music is what you are after, then this is the EP for you. This EP sees KX9000 in peerless form, helped along by some inspired features that add density to proceedings and allow for the most well-rounded of experiences to prevail. If there ever was a record to soundtrack the good times, the ones where you feel at ease with your surroundings and melt into the sunlight, then this is the one for you – so go on, give it a spin. More

Repress!

Tour-Maubourg presents his debut studio album ‘Paradis Artificiels’. This touching piece of music shows the talented artist’s beautiful exploration which is a mixture between house rhythms and jazz sonorities with a pinch of pop influences. More

After years of igniting the Parisian club scene as one half of the duo ALVA, producer Berzingue is set to embark on a new chapter in his career with the release of his new solo EP titled “Road Trip” on Pont Neuf Records. A captivating musical journey, blending deep house, French touch, and sunny chill vibes. More

With initial appearances on prestigious labels such as Shall Not Fade and Pont Neuf, DJ Psychiatre has solidified his position as an artist to follow within the emerging French electronic music scene for several years. Today, he releases a new opus titled ‘Glad To Back’, which serves as a joyful return to the Parisian label. The EP comprises 4 club bangers blending progressive and piano house.

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With the success of her debut EP ‘Memories’ released in 2023, the talented Parisian producer and DJ, Mira Lo´, swiftly established herself as one of the industry’s rising stars, earning acclaim from major names like DJ Mag, Tsugi, Apple Music, and more. Following a tour of 60 dates across France and Europe since 2022, punctuated by a new club residency at Sacre´ (Paris), Mira Lo´ makes her comeback with ‘Tribute To Chicago’. Comprising five tracks blending percussive house and intoxicating disco melodies, this EP narrates an artistic and personal retreat experienced by the Parisian artist at the heart of the mythical city where house music was born. More

Romeo Louisa is part of this new generation of French house artists who brilliantly reinvent the genre by infusing it with various inspirations. After collaborating with several big names of the moment like Oden & Fatzo or THEOS, he is set to unveil his new EP “Indigo Chronicles” on May 17, his first on Pont Neuf Records. A four-track EP that promises an immersion into a musical universe skillfully blending jazz, house, garage, and soul, offering a unique sonic experience. More

After the success of his second album ‘Spaces of Silence’ released in early 2023, Tour-Maubourg returns to the forefront with his latest opus, ‘The Panorama Sessions’. Four tracks, extracted from his live performances, that have been rearranged and interpreted in collaboration with saxophonist Ismaël Ndir, then recorded at Panorama Studio in Brussels. This EP is a unique sonic journey resulting from the encounter of two singular artists. More

Repress!

From spearheading France’s jazz-house and electronica scenes, to amassing millions of streams for lauded tracks such as Ode To Love, Manhattan To Brooklyn and Artifice, Tour-Maubourg is a flag bearer for modern French electronic music. Reminiscent of St Germain from years gone by, his maiden album – Paradis Artificiel – received critical acclaim upon its release two years ago.

Now, his new album Spaces Of Silence continues in such a vein, representing a tribute to his home country of Belgium and embodying a year long journey into deep, musical solitude. More

DJ and producer EG, based between Paris and Brussels, has already made quite a name for herself over the past two years. At only 25 years old, she has already established herself in iconic clubs across Europe, including Rex, Fabric, Audio, and Fuse. Now, she is preparing to embark on a new milestone in her young artistic career, unveiling her debut EP titled ‘Unexpected Journey’ set to release on November 17th via Pont Neuf Records. In this EP, she expresses her joys and difficulties in connection with her career change from architect to DJ, with a backdrop of 90s-inspired house tinged with hip-hop influences. More

Maison Blanche has been a sensation on the Paris house scene in recent years, making appearances at top Parisian clubs such as Rex, Yoyo and La Machine alongside the likes of Moodymann, Marcellus Pitmann, DMX Crew and HAAI. After several initial releases in 2021 and 2022, the Parisian DJ and producer is back this autumn with a brand new EP entitled ‘Food For Soul’, reflecting his deep, soulful and classic house influences. More

“Pont Neuf is an independent music label that is an integral part of the thriving French house scene since its inception in 2016. With 40 releases in just 7 years, the label has showcased exceptional artists such as Tour-Maubourg, Oden & Fatzo, Mira Lo´, THEOS, Cosmonection, Vitess, and more.

In celebration of their 7th anniversary, we present the latest installment of our yearly compilation series, ‘Hexagonal Club’. This compilation exemplifies the label’s essence, featuring both established and emerging artists who define the new wave of French house music. From familiar names like Tour-Maubourg, Cosmonection, and Mira Lo´ to guest artists like Flabaire, bendrik, Maison Blanche, Groove Boys Project, EG, and Tatie Dee, this compilation captures the dynamic energy and creativity that has been thriving in France for years.” More

Shore is a long time insider of the Parisian electronic music scene. Working as an artist liaison at Babadoum in Paris, he has been rubbing shoulders with the industry’s best for several years. His debut EP Life Is A Blur represents a new chapter for the artist who lives and breathes music and club culture, between house, electronica and ambient. More

Having garnered a lot of support like Dixon, Mano Le Tough, Tom Trago, Tsugi, Libe´ration or Vogue upon the release of his debut album Hidden Places last May, Cosmonection continues in the same vein with the release of an remix version with Lis Sarroca, Marc Brauner, Tour-Maubourg and Black Loops. The young French talent marks another milestone and the closing of his Hidden Places’s chapter. More