Essential albums from the French and Francophone “touch” (1995 - 2008) for your CD collection:
AIR Noticed for the single « Sexy boy » in 1998, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunkel are today one of the most famous people from Versaille, a town near Paris. Influenced by the band SPACE and the experimental music of the 70s, the duet quickly became the favorite of the British press. Albums: « Premiers symptômes » (1997), « Moon safari » (1998), « The Virgin Suicides » (2000), « 10,000Hz Legend » (2001), « Talkie Walkie » (2003), « Pocket Symphony » (2007).
Contact: www.pocket-symphony.com
CASSIUS The band is formed by Hubert Boombass (KOJAK) and Philippe Zdar, a sound engineer famous for his work with MC Solaar. They were recognized by the critics for their single “La mouche” and a series of music videos tributing the Marvel’ superheroes. Albums: « 1999 » (1999), « Au rêve » (2002), « 15 again » (2006).
Contact: www.cassius.fm
DAFT PUNK The single « Da funk » (1995) was a huge hit and played on air everywhere in the world during more than two years. Then “Around the world” (1997) became a classic hit on MTV. With « One more time » (2000), they conquered Japan and seduced a lot of Godorak fans. They sold millions of records around the world and became the symbols of the « French Touch ». Albums: « Homework » (1997), « Discovery » (2001), « Human after all » (2005), « Alive 2007 » (2007).
Contact: www.daftpunk.com
Etienne DE CRECY Discoved by the Bristish press, « Le patron est devenu fou ! » and « Prix choc » were on all London radios during the year 1999. Étienne de Crecy is the Jacques Tati of electro. Acclaimed as a talented producer, he was really helpful for the international recognition of « La French Touch ». Albums: « Superdiscount » (1998), « Tempovision » (2001), « Superdiscount 2 » (2004).
Benjamin DIAMOND He was the voice of the international hit « Music sounds better with you » from the band STARDUST. After two singles « Joyride » and « In your arms » were signed under his name, « Little scare » became a popular success. Albums: « Strange Attitude » (2000), « Out of myself » (2005).
DIMITRI FROM PARIS With « Sacré Français », Dimitri became a star in Japan with a personal style coming from disco, easy-listening and jazz. Albums: « Sacrebleu » (1997), « Cruisin Attitude » (2004).
DJ CAM « Summer in Paris », released in 2002, featured the beautiful Anggun. House, jazz and love are his favorite music ingredients. Albums: « Ego » (1994), « French connection » (2000), « Fillet of soul » (2003), « Liquid Hip Hop » (2004), « Revisited by » (2006).
Contact: www.inflamable.com
Frédéric GALLIANO Born in 1969 in Valence, Galliano is a traveler who talently mixes electo, jazz and African sounds. Producer, DJ and founder of the label Frikyiwa, he worked with the singer Nahawa Doumbia, the guitarist Lobo Traore (Mali) or Ramata Doussou Bagayoko. Albums: « Espaces baroques » (1997), « The African Divas » (2002), « La musique des maquis » (2003), « Solo » (2006), « Hymne à l’amour » (2007).
Contact: www.fredericgalliano.com/_v2/
Laurent GARNIER After a first career as a DJ in the club Hacienda (Mandchester), he was recognized in France with the singles « Wake up », « Astral dreams » (1994) and « Crispy bacon » (1997). He became the famous French DJ, playing around the word and finally managing the label F Com. Albums: « Shot in the Dark » (1994), « 30 » (97), « Early Works » (98), « Unreasonable Behaviour » (2000), « Lifestyles » (2004), « The Cloud Making Machine » (2005), « Public Out Burst » (2007).
Contact: www.laurentgarnier.com
Alex GOPHER After an enthusiastic review for « Party People » and « The Child » (sampling Billie Holliday), Alex Gopher became worldwide famous with « You are my high ». To produce his second record, he chose to collaborate with DEMON. Albums: « You, my Baby and I » (1999), « Wuz » (2002), « Alex Gopher » (2007).
GOTAN PROJECT Do you consider the fusion of tango and electronic music strange? Philippe Cohen Solal, Christophe H. Müller and the guitarist from Argentina Eduardo Makaroff succeeded with this difficult and surprising project. Albums: “La revancha del tango” (2000), « Inspiracion espiracion » (2004), « Lunatico » (2006).
Contact: www.gotanproject.com
David GUETTA Some people adore him; some hate him. Omnipresent in medias, David Guetta is a star for the Parisian nights and Ibiza clubs. After the FM hit « Love don’t let me go », « Just for one day » was another success with an interesting sample of the classic Bowie song « Heroes ». Albums: « Just a little more love » (2002), « Blaster » (2004), « Pop life » (2007).
Contact: www.davidguetta.com
I:CUBE Underestimated by the public, Nicholas Chaix is one of the most respected composers of his generation. His first 12 inch single « Disco cubism » was produced in 1996 with an efficient DAFT PUNK remix. Albums: « Adore” (1999), « Remixes » (2001), « 3 » (2003), « Rockin da House » (2004), « Live at the Planetarium » (2006).
JACK DE MARSEILLE He was one of the first DJs of the French electronic scene, Jack de Marseille likes to mix house music and dub with dark tones. He was recognized with a cult single « Bring back that feeling ». Albums: « Free my Music » (2003), « 2 jack 4 u » (2004).
Contact: http://w4-web160.nordnet.fr
Les JARDINIERS This Canadian trio is formed by Martin, Sylvain and Jean-Francois Charrette. They were pioneers in the disco-house wave which inundated Montréal. Albums: « Cafeteria » (2000), « Moon patrol » (2001), « Train to Reofa » (2003).
JUSTICE Noticed for their work with the band Simian on « Never be alone » and « We are your Friend », Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay released with success the 12 inch single « D.A.N.C.E. » in 2007, which won a MTV Europe Music Award for the best video. The album followed the hit single and gave them a French award in the 2008 Victoires de la Musique. In May 2008, their new video « Stress » created a debate about the violence of the images. Album : « † » (2007).
Contact: www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
KID LOCO Former member of the punk-rock band Bérurier Noir, Jean-Claude Prieur worked with another reggae band called Mega Reefer Scratch. His tastes for the trip-hop sound appeared in the excellent « A little bit of soul ». His first production « Blues project » was released in 1996 on the label Yellow. Albums: « A Grand Love Story (1998), « Kill your Darlings » (2001), « Another Late Night » (2004), « Party Animal and Disco Biscuit » (2008).
Contact: www.kidloco.com
Manu LE MALIN His name is borrowed from the movie « Les Frères Pétards ». Both producer and DJ, he was the pioneer of the hardcore sound in France. Founder of Bloc 46 Records, he became known with his own production based on dark tones. Albums: « 13 core » (2001), « Fighting spirit » (2002), « Bloc 46 » (2003), « Biomechanik » (2005), « On the Way Home » (2007).
LLORCA Based on electro-jazz and funk music, the compositions of Ludovic Llorca have uninamous support. Influenced by the Inner City « Big Fun », he was a DJ in 1995 before he produced his own « old school » tunes. Albums: « New comer » (2001), « Indigo Blues » (2002).
Contact: www.ludovicllorca.com
MIRWAIS Former member of the new wave band Taxi Girl, Mirwais Ahmadzaï is an excellent composer. Madonna recruited him to write and produce songs on the albums « Music » (2000), « American Life » (2003) and « Confessions on a Dance Floor » (2005). He finally wrote his own compositions: « Disco science » (2000), « Naïve song » (2000), « I can’t wait » (2001) and the cover « Miss you » (2002). Album : « Production » (2000).
Contact: www.mirwaisonline.com
MISS KITTIN She symbolized the comeback of the 80s electro sound in Europe. In 2001, the French woman was a real new icon: she worked with German artists and released the fabulous « Frank Sinatra is dead ». Albums: « Miss Kittin » (2003), « I Com » (2004), « Batbox » (2007).
Contact: www.misskittin.com
MODJO At barely 17 years old, two teenagers composed « Lady », a house/pop tune which became number one in the UK. Young British girls adooore. The second single « Chillin’ » was followed by a disappointing album. Album : « Modjo » (2001).
Mr. OIZO The yellow puppet of Quentin Dupieux was created for a jean brand name advertising campaign. TV transformed « Flat beat » into a number one hit in Europe : two millions singles were sold in few months. Albums: « Analog Worms Attack » (1999), « Last Night a DJ saved my Dog » (2000), « Moustache » (2005).
Contact: www.myspace.com/oizo3000
Jérôme PACMAN He was a resident DJ at the rex and for the Magic Garden parties. He discovered house music in 1987 in Ibiza. Then he organized after-hours parties in Paris and developed an original and warm sound. Albums: « Jérôme Pacman’s house café - Vol. 1 » (1999), « Jérôme Pacman’s house café - Vol. 2 » (2000).
Contact: www.jeromepacman.com
SASH « Mesdames, messieurs le disc-jokey Sash est de retour » was the beginning of a European hit during summer 1996. « Encore une fois », a kind of house/pop/transe music in French quickly became number one in clubs and a standard bearer of Eurodance. Written by a young German, this tune was remixed a lot of times and motivated a generation of novice DJs. Another motivation: Sash sold 17 million records.
SAINT-GERMAIN Appeared in 1993 with the single « French trax », Ludovic Navarre has a unique house-jazz sound which won over the planet after the success of « Soul Salsa Soul » and « Rose rouge » in 2000/2001. He was inspired by Detroit’s ambient sound, New York’s garage sound and Chicago’s house music. He went on stage for the first time in December in 1995 for the festival Transmusicales de Rennes: then he was on tour around the world and played with real jazz musicians. Albums: « Boulevard » (1995), « From Detroit to St Germain » (1999), « Tourist » (2000).
Contact: www.stgermain.co.uk
SHAZZ Pioneer of the electronic French music scene, Shazz often researched with spiritualty in music. Ex-colleague of SAINT-GERMAIN, he proposed house music mélodies with a lot of love metaphors. Albums: « Shazz » (2002), « In the light » (2003), « Beautiful » (2004), « Human » (2005).
Bob SINCLAR Creator of Yellow Productions, Chris The French Kiss, a huge collector of records, experienced trip-hop music in 1995 with his band MIGHTY BOP. Then he decided to play house music alone under the name Bob Sinclar, a character of the French movie Le Magnifique. He is really appreciated in the European dance clubs and is recognized for his genius in marketing. Albums: « Paradise » (1998), « Champs Elysées » (2000), « III » (2003), « Western Dream » (2006), « Soundz of Freedom » (2007).
Contact: www.bobsinclar.com
STARDUST With half-a-million records sold in a little time, this short lived band was the marketing shot of the year 1998. With only one single « Music sounds better with you » and his numerous remixes, Thomas Banglater (DAFT PUNK), Alan Braxe and the singer Benjamin Diamond made happy clubbers worldwide.
SUPERFUNK Fafa Monteco, Stéphane B. and Mike 303 founded this trio from Marseille, standard bearer of the label Flat Lux. Their compositions are a mix of funk, disco, électro and hip hop music. The single « Lucky star » used the voice of Ron Caroll and was a big hit on European radio play-lists. Album : « Hold up » (2000).
SUPERMEN LOVERS This project of Guillaume Atlan and Mani started in 1999 with the foundation of the label Lafessé Records. The song « Starlight », sold 1 million records in 2001 and became a classic house music tune on the British dancefloors before seducing the rest of Europe. Albums: « Player » (2001), « Boys in the Wood » (2004).
Sébastien TELLIER Encouraged by the critic press after the release of the single « Fantino » in the compilation « Source Rocks » in 1998, Sébastien Tellier recorded his first album with the help of Quentin Dupieux (Mr OIZO) and Guillaume Lebraz. Albums: « L’incroyable vérité » (2001), « Politics » (2003), « Sessions » (2006), « Sexuality » (2008).
Contact: www.sebastientellier.com
Emmanuel TOP / BBE This young man of Tourcoing, a city in the north of France, chose two complementary careers: eurodance with the trio BBE and his successful « Seven days and two weeks » (1996); and an experimental introspective work with the production of « Lobotomie ». Albums: « Asteroïd » (1996), « Detune my Fortune » (2001).