'Renegade' recorded in collaboration with Victor Le Masne and Gaspard Augé (half of Justice) reinvents the French producer's unique recipe: dark mood but with a thunderous groove. With a vocal assistance from Cautious Clay, 'Renegade' announces one of this years' most anticipated comebacks.

TRACKLIST

A1. Renegade
B1. Renegade (Instrumental)

INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

In 2022, Kavinsky is back with "Reborn", his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris, due March 25th. "Renegade" which was recorded in collaboration with Victor Le Masne and Gaspard Augé (half of Justice) reinvents the French producer’s unique recipe: dark mood but with a thunderous groove. With a vocal assistance from Cautious Clay, « Renegade » announces one of this years’ most anticipated comebacks.




More

‘Cameo’ is the third and last stepping-stone which lead to Kavinsky’s long-awaited new album ‘Reborn’, out on June 3rd. Its raging funky beat and syncopated synths offer the most perfect case for American sensation Kareen Lomax to deliver a warm though exhilarating vocal performance. Robot disco guitar bumps all along and that secret recipe everyone knows was invented in Paris. Yet another humongous track by the and only dead & alive 88.1 to 107.9 FM fiend.

TRACKLIST

A1. Cameo
B1. Cameo (Instrumental)

INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

‘Cameo’ is the third and last stepping stone which lead to Kavinsky’s long-awaited new album ‘Reborn’, out on June 3rd. Its raging funky beat and syncopated synths offer the most perfect case for American sensation Kareen Lomax to deliver a warm though exhilarating vocal performance. Robot disco guitar bumps all along and that secret recipe everyone knows was invented in Paris. Yet another humongous track by the and only dead & alive 88.1 to 107.9 FM fiend.




More

Kavinsky envisioned ‘Zenith’ as a sequel to ‘Nightcall’, his 2010 breakthrough hit that became an integral part of the iconic ‘Drive’ soundtrack. Prudence, formerly of the Dø, sings the verses, while Diamond Nights' Morgan Phalen takes the choruses..

TRACKLIST

A1. Zenith
B1. Zenith (Instrumental)

INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

In 2022, Kavinsky is back with "Reborn", his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris, due March 25th. While recording it, Kavinsky had this special project to record a sequel to his hit song "Nightcall", which after all sounded almost like a movie scene. This sequel would be called "Zenith".

Therefore, like in the original, he composed a duet between a girl and a man, but reversed:
the verse is sung by the woman, the chorus by the man.
Prudence (formerly from the successful duet The Dø) is the female vocalist, Morgan Phalen (who sung with Justice and is the vocalist of the band Diamond Nights) plays the male character along with a special guest: the saxophone.

"Zenith" showcases Kavinsky's romantic side on a muted and futuristic sound.




More

(2LP gatefold, shiny cover, printed innersleeves, holographic sticker on cover) Kavinsky is back with 'Reborn', his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris. The first single 'Renegade' has an impactful sound and a powerful chorus, whilst the second single 'Zenith' has a more muted and futuristic feel. On 'Reborn', Kavinsky amplifies these sounds without deviating from his relentless trajectory.



TRACKLISTING

A1. Pulsar
A2. Reborn
A3. Renegade
B1. Trigger
B2. Goodbye
B3. Plasma


C1. Cameo
C2. Zenith
C3. Vigilante
D1. Zombie
D2. Outsider
D3. Horizon


INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

In 2022, Kavinsky is back with "Reborn", his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris. The first single "Renegade" has an impactful sound and a powerful chorus, whilst the second single "Zenith” has a more muted and futuristic feel. On "Reborn", Kavinsky amplifies these sounds without deviating from his relentless trajectory.


More

Kavinsky’s ‘Odd look’ is one of those songs which will haunt you for a long time after hearing them, one of Kavinsky’s acclaimed ‘Outrun’ highlights for sure. The deep, raw and soulful instrumental brings a cinematic sound which has the power to litterally put you in a virtual movie just listening to music ! And SebastiAn’s vocal part on top is a unique rendering, somewhere between Stevie Wonder and HAL. The Weeknd was invited to sing on the song by Kavinsky himself. As a big fan of his singing skills, the zombie wanted him to give his song the real soul touch that he’d had in mind for ages. His performance reminds of Michael Jackson, a fast and swinging vocal line, extremely addictive ! A-Trak who has been Kavinsky’s pal for years now delivers a banging remix with bass & drums and a beautiful & strange vocal hook. The kind of tune that can be played in a NYC hip hop party, as well as in a techno warehouse in Berlin with the same effect : arms up ! A-Track rules it as always. Midnight Juggernauts have taken the spacey-progressive path for their approach towards ‘Odd Look’. Trancey sounds built around those Scarface-like choirs surround you and bring you back to the early 9O’s chill out era, It’s emotional music, as on their recently released ‘Uncanny Valley’ album. Prince 85 is the newcomer of this selection of X-tra strong producers. His new-hip hop sound fits Kavinsky’s moods perfectly, adding a brilliant re-cut work and some exquisite additional keyboards. Real drinving music, that’s the deal. Surkin has the recipe for producing absolute club anthems, his re-do of Kavinsky’s tune is one more proof of his skills. Sirens, brilliantly produced vocal excerpts and his signature synth sounds alltogether create a happy and hysteric mood that one could imagine create club riots !
More

EAN: 3516628221217 - A1: Prelude A2: Blizzard A3: ProtoVision A4: Odd Look A5: Rampage A6: Suburbia A7: Testarossa Autodrive B1:
Nightcall B2: Deadcruiser B3: Grand Canyon B4: First Blood B5: Roadgame B6: Endless
Finally here´s "OutRun", the first album. Nicolas Winding Refn's recent film, "Drive" operates on a level of cool that's hard to articulate with just words; it takes a snippet from the movie, take the opening credits backed by Kavinsky's 'Nightcall', to really grasp it's effortless debonair. Since the film's release, this
single's Youtube video has climbed to over 30 million views. Kavinsky is not all about Nightcall. He died in a car crash in 1986, whilst driving his beloved Testarossa. He re-appeared as a zombie in 2005, with his 12-inch, Teddy Boy. Crowds gathered to witness the miracle: despite being dead, Kavinsky was still alive. In 2007, he released his second 12-inch, '1986'. This is when his French robot mates in Daft Punk invited him to join their 'Alive Tour', and A-Trak put together an American Tour. After discovering the world with his red eyes, Kavinsky retreated to his base camp to release 'Nightcall' in 2011. 2012: Kavinsky is now releasing his long-awaited debut album ‚OutRun' produced by SebastiAn (Ed Banger records) including featuring by Havoc (Mobb Deep) , Tyson & SebastiAn. The word
is already spreading: ‚Nightcall' also used in Brad Furman's ‚lincoln Lawyer' OST; Roadgame in the trailer of he videogame ‚Hitman Absolution' and in the Mercedes France ‚Etoiles'advert ; Odd Look in ‚BMW i' ad campaign. More

(2xLP, printed innersleeves, sticker sheet) nit is the genius underdog of the current French chanson scene. After playing along with Sébastien Tellier or Juliette Armanet (a huge success in France), after remixing Phoenix, Myd, Dita Von Teese, Cola Boyy, Tony Allen or Jane Birkin, here he comes with his debut album. The balearic sound is always a big nit influence, feel good electronics & lush acoustic chords.

Tracklist

A1. Bas
A2. Autostop
A3. Insecure

B1. Acid Arizona
B2. Primeiro Amor
B3. Puzzle Effect

C1. Paradoxe A
C2. Paradoxe B
C3. Pazzo
C4. Zoom !

D1. Drawn to Me
D2. Looney Tune
D3. Haut

Spotted by French label Record Makers (Sébastien Tellier, Kavinsky, AIR, Cola Boyy) with his 2017 “Dessous de plage” first EP, nit has since grown from funky DIY library music to a lush and complex groovy sound. The magic of this debut album “Big Bang Puzzle” is a keen sense of composition and an innate affinity for 90’s European electronica.

It’s a playful album, the work of an artist at the peak of his craft, determined to twist styles and references (Daft Punk, Ennio Morricone, Robert Miles, Vangelis...) in order to give them a new form.

“Big Bang Puzzle” is a tangle of psychedelic and cartoon-esque pieces, an abstract modernist painting of sounds inspired by vintage pop music. The cover, created by Swiss artist Flora Mottini, offers a first glimpse of his brand new universe.

But it’s also by collaborating with French iconic design studio H5 that nit suddenly enters the French Touch genealogy. nit takes the shape of an n that grows legs and arms to become a cheeky cartoon character traveling through a real space-time continuum. Parisian H5 studio has been involved since the end of the ‘90s in the design of strong visual concepts for French Touch’s elite (Etienne de Crécy, AIR, Mirwais). French music at its best from which nit is a direct descendant. And one who expands and opens even further: pop, italo-disco, trip-hop impulses, Morriconian cavalcades, lo-fi aesthetics, Caribbean music. Producer and mixer Lucien Krampf (Oklou, Ascendant Vierge, Casual Gabberz, CRYSTALLMESS) was the person in charge of mixing this ambitious record.

nit is both a question and an answer, and a musical enigma that pushes us to explore the far reaches of our imagination…
More

Tristesse Contemporaine’s new album is like a space shuttle, full of metropolitan and eccentric music makers. A free-spirited album filled with irresistible beat-driven tunes thanks to Mike's thunderous voice, Narumi's sparkling synths and Leo's gleaming guitar, conquering new territories from reggae to 90's breakbeat or New-York disco. A unique and united style glued together by a rare ability to switch moods and dynamics in a gleam of light, like a skilled DJ would. Produced by Lewis OfMan.



TRACK LISTING

A1. Nothing Left to Win
A2. Sly Fox
A3. Midori
A4. Rude!
A5. Rock This Town

B1. XRaver
B2. England
B3. Running
B4. Do Nothing
B5. Popstar
B6. Forget

INFO

"UNITED", Tristesse Contemporaine’s new album is like a space shuttle, full of metropolitan and eccentric music makers.

Inside the shuttle: Narumi, Leo & Mike, respectively from Japan, Sweden and Jamaican-British. All "united" behind the unique Tristesse Contemporaine flag and led since the start by French label Record Makers (Kavinsky, Sebastien Tellier, Cola Boyy…).

After three rock & post-punk infused albums: "Tristesse Contemporaine" (2012), "Stay Golden" (2013) and "Stop and Start" (2017), they’re off to a new start and open a new cycle with their new opus "UNITED".

Who other than young prodigy Lewis OfMan, the one-man band behind hits like "Attitude" and renowned collaborations including Rejjie Snow or Carly Rae Jepsen, to join the joyous ride?

After hearing "Sly Fox"'s first demo in 2019, they convinced him to produce a whole album for them and became the fourth member of sorts, adding his pop sensibility, mixing genres and emotions with funky basslines, strong hooks, and digital arrangements.

A free-spirited album filled with irresistible beat-driven tunes thanks to Mike's thunderous voice, Narumi's sparkling synths and Leo's gleaming guitar, conquering new territories from reggae to 90’s breakbeat or New-York disco. A unique and united style glued together by a rare ability to switch moods and dynamics in a gleam of light, like a skilled DJ would.

"Nothing Left to Win?" as the opening track goes.

Well yes, precisely.

Far from distorting Tristesse Contemporaine, "UNITED", by flirting with club culture, triggered a new need to play with their origins, using old & new genres to project themselves into a new self. More

'Renegade' recorded in collaboration with Victor Le Masne and Gaspard Augé (half of Justice) reinvents the French producer's unique recipe: dark mood but with a thunderous groove. With a vocal assistance from Cautious Clay, 'Renegade' announces one of this years' most anticipated comebacks.

TRACKLIST

A1. Renegade
B1. Renegade (Instrumental)

INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

In 2022, Kavinsky is back with "Reborn", his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris, due March 25th. "Renegade" which was recorded in collaboration with Victor Le Masne and Gaspard Augé (half of Justice) reinvents the French producer’s unique recipe: dark mood but with a thunderous groove. With a vocal assistance from Cautious Clay, « Renegade » announces one of this years’ most anticipated comebacks.




More

Kavinsky envisioned ‘Zenith’ as a sequel to ‘Nightcall’, his 2010 breakthrough hit that became an integral part of the iconic ‘Drive’ soundtrack. Prudence, formerly of the Dø, sings the verses, while Diamond Nights' Morgan Phalen takes the choruses..

TRACKLIST

A1. Zenith
B1. Zenith (Instrumental)

INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

In 2022, Kavinsky is back with "Reborn", his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris, due March 25th. While recording it, Kavinsky had this special project to record a sequel to his hit song "Nightcall", which after all sounded almost like a movie scene. This sequel would be called "Zenith".

Therefore, like in the original, he composed a duet between a girl and a man, but reversed:
the verse is sung by the woman, the chorus by the man.
Prudence (formerly from the successful duet The Dø) is the female vocalist, Morgan Phalen (who sung with Justice and is the vocalist of the band Diamond Nights) plays the male character along with a special guest: the saxophone.

"Zenith" showcases Kavinsky's romantic side on a muted and futuristic sound.




More

‘Cameo’ is the third and last stepping-stone which lead to Kavinsky’s long-awaited new album ‘Reborn’, out on June 3rd. Its raging funky beat and syncopated synths offer the most perfect case for American sensation Kareen Lomax to deliver a warm though exhilarating vocal performance. Robot disco guitar bumps all along and that secret recipe everyone knows was invented in Paris. Yet another humongous track by the and only dead & alive 88.1 to 107.9 FM fiend.

TRACKLIST

A1. Cameo
B1. Cameo (Instrumental)

INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

‘Cameo’ is the third and last stepping stone which lead to Kavinsky’s long-awaited new album ‘Reborn’, out on June 3rd. Its raging funky beat and syncopated synths offer the most perfect case for American sensation Kareen Lomax to deliver a warm though exhilarating vocal performance. Robot disco guitar bumps all along and that secret recipe everyone knows was invented in Paris. Yet another humongous track by the and only dead & alive 88.1 to 107.9 FM fiend.




More

(2LP gatefold, shiny cover, printed innersleeves, holographic sticker on cover) Kavinsky is back with 'Reborn', his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris. The first single 'Renegade' has an impactful sound and a powerful chorus, whilst the second single 'Zenith' has a more muted and futuristic feel. On 'Reborn', Kavinsky amplifies these sounds without deviating from his relentless trajectory.



TRACKLISTING

A1. Pulsar
A2. Reborn
A3. Renegade
B1. Trigger
B2. Goodbye
B3. Plasma


C1. Cameo
C2. Zenith
C3. Vigilante
D1. Zombie
D2. Outsider
D3. Horizon


INFO

Kavinsky is a zombie who came back from the dead after his Testarossa crashed in 1986.

His first song, "Testarossa Autodrive", was an instant success, and was followed by two singles. In 2007, he was chosen by Daft Punk to open their now legendary "Alive" tour.

In 2011, his track "Nightcall", produced with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, became the theme song for the film "Drive", and consequently a worldwide success.

Kavinsky's first album, "Outrun", was released in 2013, followed by a collaboration with The Weeknd on the song "Odd Look".

In 2022, Kavinsky is back with "Reborn", his second album recorded at the famous Motorbass studio in Paris. The first single "Renegade" has an impactful sound and a powerful chorus, whilst the second single "Zenith” has a more muted and futuristic feel. On "Reborn", Kavinsky amplifies these sounds without deviating from his relentless trajectory.


More

(1xLP - Gatefold w/ exclusive drawing) Sébastien Tellier's "Sessions" album get pressed to vinyl for the first time.

TRACKLIST
A1. Bye Bye
A2. La Ritournelle
A3. Black Douleur
A4. League Chicanos
A5. La Dolce Vita
B1. Fantino
B2. Kissed by You
B3. Broadway
B4. Universe
B5. Classic

INFO

In January 2004, Sébastien Tellier released "Politics", an ambitious album which preaches the defense of the oppressed peoples, in a luxurious dressing. The press ignites, but he was considered as an original elitist. Nevertheless, "La Ritournelle" is a piece which whole France knows, without knowing who sings it.

In September 2005, lead by his Ritournelle which crossed the Channel by swimming, the same album goes out to the UK with crash. "Epic, gorgeous dance track we can't, can't, can't stop playing", The Sunday Times, October 2005.

Sébastien Tellier's live shows reached a kind of artistic summit, a model of intensity and strakness. It is from this control that came the idea to record, on December 30th 2005, an acoustic session of his directory accompanied by the pianist Simon Dalmais.

The fruit of this session gave birth to this album, "Sessions", intimate and straight. "Sessions" is a collection of timeless pieces, stemming from his directory, in the right lined by the authors / composers / performers who mark their period. In bonus of this recording produced as an album studio by Alf (Air, Phoenix), Sébastien Tellier recorded a resumption of Christophe's "La Dolce Vita", as well as an instrumental unpublished one "Classic".

This is the first time this album is pressed on vinyl.

More

(printed cardboard inner sleeve) Repress of “Politics” including Sébastien's masterpiece, the melody that everybody knows, “La Ritournelle”. It features prominent drumming provided by Tony Allen.

More

2LP vinyl reissue of Arpanet's 2006 electronic masterpiece! Under his real name Gerald Donald, Arpanet is a man-machine from Detroit fond of science with multiple identities:Glass Domain, Heinrich Mueller, also part of Drexciya, and Dopplereffekt. Following Kraftwerk, he became on his turn a real pioneer of an uncluttered and effective industrial electronic music. More

(transparent red vinyl, shiny cover with goffering, printed insert) Cola Boyy gets members of MGMT, The Avalanches, Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly, AIR's Nicolas Godin, Myd, Infinite Bisous, and John Carroll Kirby on debut album.



TRACKLIST

A1. Don't Forget Your Neighborhood (w/ The Avalanches)

A2. Mailbox (w/ John Carroll Kirby)

A3. Song for the Mister (w/ Nicolas Godin)

A4. Roses (w/ Myd)

A5. For the Last Time

B1. You Can Do It (w/ nit)

B2. Mink

B3. One of These Winters Will Take Me (w/ Bon Voyage Organisation)

B4. Go the Mile (w/ infinite bisous)

B5. Kid Born in Space (w/ Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT) More

1xLP - gatefold glossy lamination- pink coloured vinyl- printed inner cardboard sleeve. French singer-songwriter Sébastien Tellier wrote and co-produced the 10-track LP, set for release on February 16th and spanning sparkling electronica to lightly psychedelic pop.
More

Taken from 'L'Aventura', Sebastien Tellier's new remix EP, featuring contributions from Tom Furse (The Horrors), Hercules & Love Affair, Principle of Geometry and Walter. Artwork by Valentine Reinhardt.

More

Dark, sexy and catchy, FIRE has inspired four distinguished remixers: house and salsoul from Clement ASWF, Hispanic and cinematic from Daniel Maloso, tropical and funky from Hypnolove, electro and dreamy from Kasper Bjørke. Fire walks with them. More

Incl. MP3. The very team which helped Tellier create his cult classic song 'La Ritournelle' reunited: Tony Allen, of Fela fame, on drums. Rob, keyboardist for Phoenix. Emmanuel d'Orlando on string arrangements and Philippe Zdar mixing the record.

More

Kavinsky’s ‘Odd look’ is one of those songs which will haunt you for a long time after hearing them, one of Kavinsky’s acclaimed ‘Outrun’ highlights for sure. The deep, raw and soulful instrumental brings a cinematic sound which has the power to litterally put you in a virtual movie just listening to music ! And SebastiAn’s vocal part on top is a unique rendering, somewhere between Stevie Wonder and HAL. The Weeknd was invited to sing on the song by Kavinsky himself. As a big fan of his singing skills, the zombie wanted him to give his song the real soul touch that he’d had in mind for ages. His performance reminds of Michael Jackson, a fast and swinging vocal line, extremely addictive ! A-Trak who has been Kavinsky’s pal for years now delivers a banging remix with bass & drums and a beautiful & strange vocal hook. The kind of tune that can be played in a NYC hip hop party, as well as in a techno warehouse in Berlin with the same effect : arms up ! A-Track rules it as always. Midnight Juggernauts have taken the spacey-progressive path for their approach towards ‘Odd Look’. Trancey sounds built around those Scarface-like choirs surround you and bring you back to the early 9O’s chill out era, It’s emotional music, as on their recently released ‘Uncanny Valley’ album. Prince 85 is the newcomer of this selection of X-tra strong producers. His new-hip hop sound fits Kavinsky’s moods perfectly, adding a brilliant re-cut work and some exquisite additional keyboards. Real drinving music, that’s the deal. Surkin has the recipe for producing absolute club anthems, his re-do of Kavinsky’s tune is one more proof of his skills. Sirens, brilliantly produced vocal excerpts and his signature synth sounds alltogether create a happy and hysteric mood that one could imagine create club riots !
More

Did you know ? Voguing, which gained mainstream exposure through Malcolm McLaren or Madonna, owes a little of its fortune to France : since the late eighties, this underground movement born in the Harlem ballroom scene fascinated the very first missionaries of house music à la française, whether they’d be DJs, journalists or promoters. Around the world, most of the wonderful Queens of Vogue had a break through with their performances in music videos on MTV, but nowhere else other than in Paris did we take this New-York gay and multicultural counter-culture so seriously. It didn’t caught the attention of young producers nor rub off on the pavement of any other city. Therefore, it is without surprise that with their upcoming album « House of Melancholy », Acid Washed, a duo that arose from the second wave of French house, are bringing back a concentrate of everything that house music encloses (we will never say it enough) of polictical, social, utopian, and subversive matters.
Because it’s in the legendary club culture, with its heroes and its secret stories, that Andrew Claristidge and Richard d’Alpert found the clay, the ideas and the outline of pretty much everything that they wanted to inject into Acid Washed. Two house music and techno lovers swaying between nocturnal experiences and encyclopedias, both musicians picked up the house nation as an haven, a home to live in, a place to learn and exchange. One grew up next to the cradle of French techno (Grenoble), the other was trained on classical music, new-wave and punk : Andrew and Richard did indeed cross paths around a substrate named Daft Punk, but above all and later on, around the sprawling club culture which came to life at the same moment in Chicago, Detroit and Manchester, and gave birth to the duo. Considered as a return to the origins of house and techno music after the euphoric unpacking of a big bangish first album, « House of Melancholy » however proposes a synthetic cocktail, highly indiosyncratic : a return to the origins of their own house and their own techno. In this way, the ones who would only see Acid Washed as a pair of skillful technicians of vintage synths and references are in for a surprise. We won’t dance nor dream to the songs of « House of Melancholy » like to any other album, always higher and louder, and a little bit stronger too. Recorded after going twice around the world, « House of Melancholy » is the soundtrack of Claristidge and d’Alpert’s lives, following the leap into the void. As Richard says, ‘‘My melancholy always travels with me…’’, and it’s especially the emotional paradox of electronic music as it resonates in our hearts that seems to finally reveal itself. Therefore, this is the story of a duo which found itself more and more, better and better, living its own life. Clearly, « House of Melancholy » gives pride of place to strong emotions and melodies. Without ever getting to the shores of electroppop, the duo puts a little more of real, heavy pop, of ‘70s italian variety, of Morricone or Philip Glass soundtracks, and very pure electronica in their dance music. Particularly, Andrew and Richard surrounded themselves with friends to celebrate better : the exceptionally gifted Joakim at the production board, the stentorian Yan Wagner, the too rare Miss Kittin, the swagest Ahmad Larnes behind the mic, the geek comrades Hypnolove, Turzi or La Mverte playing around with keyboards and compressors… We say it again, « House of Melancholy » is a human adventure more than a story of calculation, of chic, or references. An army of beforehands and models is here, but they are spread into movement and emotions, and much less important than the immediate beauty of synthesizers and pure arpeggios curled up around the organic beats going on and on. « House of Melancholy » is a party, an ode to music which unites bodies and souls. Already read that somewhere ? Dance music is eternal. Acid Washed welcome you at the party, Acid Washed welcome you home. More