Let's Bring Back French House

Seya - Backlight - 2011 (La Bombe)

2012-01-18T21:30:00.003Z

Florence-born London-based dance producer Daniele Pianigiani AKA Seya (formerly 5eya), is a new name to the scene. Friends with The Young Punx and Phonat, he is now setting his own path. Seya's 'Float EP' released last year on Sharooz 'La Bombe' label, is a funky modern disco-house hidden gem. Cut up samples, phat heavy drums and synths that pop out left, right and centre. This is a recipe for success. Here's the b-side 'Backlight'.

seya - backlight by Seya

Let's Start Again + Shook Remix

2012-01-14T20:00:00.006Z

It's 2012, a new year and a new start. It's been a good few years for the 'French Touch' sound. Every year new producers are emerging and it has now got to a point where a scene is forming.

In '08 we had 'Mr Oizo - Lambs Anger', 'Voodoo Chilli - Titans EP', and of course 'Louis La Roche - The Peach EP'. In '09 we saw the return of Armand Van Helden with new best buddy A-Trak to form the mighty Duck Sauce. Their debut track 'aNYway' hitting the mainstream charts and radio. From then on, 2010 and 2011 exploded with new music from Phonat, Nightriders, His Majesty Andre, Madeon, Fred Falke, J Paul Getto, Vanguard plus many more...

French Touch Version 3.0. We bought it back. This time it's more electro inspired, a strong disco feel, the old House sound updated for the 21st Century. So, What will 2012 bring?

So to kick-start this blog again. Here's a brand new remix from Shook. It's funky as fuck.

Jodie Marie - I Got You (Shook Remix) by Shook (Official)

We're Back!

2012-01-14T16:50:00.001Z

Various - Blackjack Présente Jackpot (1999)

2010-04-19T01:55:00.003+01:00

Blackjack Presents - Jackpot - 1999 - Black Jack

Yes, i know what your thinking. 'Where the hell have you been?!?'

Well things have been very busy for me as i'm writing my album, so this website had to be put on hold for a while until things got quieter for me. Thanks to everyone who bought 'Super Soaker' in January!

The good news is, i'm back and i have the first lbbfh album post!

This could well be the rarest release i've posted on here. As far as i know, its basicly impossible to get hold of! Blackjack was one of many labels created and owned by Fab G. Released in 1999 this was the first various artists album to be sold by the label. It's a great collection of some of the finest names in the french touch scene at the time. Superfunk, Fafa Monteco and Sebastien Leger all made it onto the record aswell as some amazing rare and previously unheard tracks!

Tracklisting:

1 - Prelude To Blackjack
2 - Superfunk - La Guerre Du Funk
3 - Kiko - Last Days Of Disco
4 - Discokidz - Starlite
5 - Deaf 'N Dumb Crew - Chicayork
6 - Twin Pitch - Let's Get Together
7 - Da Bitchy Boys - Le Zeeep (Remix Seb. Leger)
8 - Fafa Monteco - To The Rhythm
9 - Cricco Castelli - From Russia With Phunk
10 - Sebastien Leger - Saturation
11 - DJ Nekbath - No One

Click Here to Listen

Gant Garrard - 100% Chicago Style EP (2001)

2009-11-29T20:26:00.008Z

Gant Garrard - 100% Chicago Style - 2001 - Riviera

Ahh yes, Riviera great label! Home to Stacy Kidd, Sebastien Leger and Paul Johnson, own by the legendry Fab G (Blackjack, Grand Prix). Gant Garrard might not be a name you've heard of but with tracks on Blackjack, Dust Traxx and of course Riviera, why not?

Arguabley more Chicago House than French House, this release is funky as fuck! Looped but interesting is the best way to describe this. It's all about the groove and feeling of the song with clevely placed filters and kicks that come in and out of the mix.

I'll post another vinyl release of his perhaps in the new year.

A1 - No Time For Fussin'
B1 - I'll Take You There

Click Here to Listen

Prim Sessions: Louis La Roche

2009-10-30T17:02:00.002Z

You can now listen to a new mix i did for Prim Sessions.

The show is two hours long and my set starts in the second hour.

Heres the tracklisting:

Intro
Swivel Hips - Cheaters
Cricco Castelli - From Russia With Phunk
Stacy Kidd - Motherfucker (Dub Mix)
Duck Sauce - You're Nasty
Del Marquis - Runaround (Louis La Roche 'In 1995' Remix)
Claude Vonstroke - Beat That Bird (Louis' Chime Edit)
Sonny Fodera - Money
DJ Falcon - Untitled (Hijack Remix)
Louis La Roche - Super Soaker
Louis La Roche Presents YALL - One
Boy Crisis - Fountain Of Youth (Louis La Roche 'In The Discoteque' Remix)
Alex Gopher With Demon Presents Wuz - Use Me
Louis La Roche - Malfunction
Patrick Alavi - Come 2 Me
The Requesters - Pianobytes
BEAR - International Love

Click Here to Listen

My Sample Findings

2009-10-04T19:30:00.002+01:00

Just a few French House samples i've found that aren't on the internet anywhere else!! :)

Dynamic Rockers - Whispers // Ramsey Lewis - Whisper Zone
His Adjesty Andre - Peep Thong // Shalamar - The Second Time Around
DJ Falcon - Honeymoon // Jackie Moore - How's Your Love Life Baby
Voodoo Chilli - Big Byrd // Donald Byrd - Change
Jean Moustache - Choucroute // Bebu Silvetti - Sun After The Rain

Enjoy!

Vinyl Fever - Electronic For Children (2000)

2009-08-27T14:11:00.005+01:00

Vinyl Fever - Electronic For Children - 2000 - Diamond Traxx

I've got another super rare one for you today!

Ali & Farid Allalou, two brothers who produce under the names, The Eternals, Altered Beast and of course Vinyl Fever. These guys have been on every good french house label out there.

After releasing two EP's (one on Versatile and one on Vertigo) the brothers met Benjamin Diamond through Mr Alan Braxe and signed this release to Diamond Traxx. This release sounds like Boys Noize meets Jess & Crabbe. My favourite version is the Warriors Groove Mix.

Tracklisting:

A1: Electronic For Children (Orginal 909 Edit)
B1: Electronic For Children (Warriors Groove Mix)
B2: Electronic For Children (Modulation Edit)

Click Here to Download EP

Gile - Third Episode (2002)

2009-08-05T13:12:00.006+01:00

Gile - Third Episode - 2002 - Vertigo

First off must apologize, the first track on this EP has been cut short. I got this release from a record collector and so theres not alot i can do about it.

With that aside though this is a great EP! Guillaume Degenetais is Gile, one of the first producers to sign to the legendary Vertigo Records. This is his third and last EP (hense the name). It's very much like a Sebastien Leger release. Its funky, disco, and has samples popping out all over the place! If your gunna download anything today, download this!!

Tracklisting:

A1 - Let's Rock
B1 - Montytown
B2 - Superstar

Click Here to Download EP

New Daft Punk - Tron 2.0

2009-07-24T22:54:00.000+01:00

Krikor - City Beats (1998)

2009-07-09T13:52:00.014+01:00

Krikor - City Beats - 1998 - 2000ST

This was Krikor Kouchian's first ever release. Krikor has remixed Demon, Benjamin Diamond and Freq Nasty in the past and i'm honored to say the man is still making and releasing music! It's not very often i can say that on this blog!

This EP has a strong hiphop sound to the house music that he makes. Go check him out on his myspace for new music:

http://www.myspace.com/krikorparis

Tracklisting:

A: Downtoown
B1: Parissanfransisco
B2: Uptown

Click Here to Download EP

Nicholas - Haberdasher EP (2000)

2009-06-22T21:28:00.003+01:00

Nicholas - Haberdasher - 2000 - 2000ST

Nicholas Lemercier is a name noone seems to know but the man is responsiable for the huge summer hit with Demon with his project 'Heartbreaker' on the single 'You Are My High'.

This is a project simply entitled 'Nicolas'. Released on 2000ST (French House label created by Jérémie Mondon aka Demon.)

This EP has a raw sound to it and is one of the forgotten releases of the label. (his label buddies being Roy Davis Jr and Sebastien Leger)

Tracklisting:

A: Goldelectric
B1: Granted
B2: Rollergirl

Click Here to Download EP

Daft Mafia - I Feel So (2002)

2009-06-14T12:19:00.003+01:00

Daft Mafia - I Feel So - Unreleased (2002)

Daft Mafia as far as i know was a memeber on a Daft Punk forum a few years ago that is most known for putting out the remix/reconstruction of 'Call On Me'.

The story goes that Thomas (from DP) and DJ Falcon (Together) did a DJ set in which they played an early demo of Eric Prydz' Call On Me. This was a demo that Prydz did and sent to Steve Winwood (the guy that did the original 'valerie' that he sampled). Winwood liked it so much that he re-recorded the vocals for him for the final version. So now your saying 'so where does Daft Mafia come into all this?'. Daft Mafia reconstructed the track because all that exsisted was a set rip.

So there you have it, Thomas and Falcon had nothing to do with it, it was an early demo all along. Its a similar case to the whole 'Thomas Falke' song 'High Emotion', which was also mislabelled as a Together production.

So heres an extremely rare track by Daft Mafia, as far as i know this is the only place on the internet where you can get it.

Daft Mafia - I Feel So

Louis La Roche - BBC Radio One Minimix + Interview

2009-06-06T13:12:00.008+01:00

Louis La Roche - Jaymo & Andy George - (05/06/09)

So, Jaymo & Andy of BBC Radio One asked me to do a guest mix on the show. Theres an interview over the phone aswell and talk of the next EP entitled 'Super Soaker', not to mention a sneak preview...

Louis La Roche - Radio One Minimix + Interview

Tracklisting:

Louis La Roche - Me & Her (Ever After Records)
Don Diablo - I Am Not From France (Louis La Roche Remix) (CDR)
Louis La Roche - Be Brave (Ever After Records)
Basement Jaxx - Raindrops (Louis La Roche Rework) (CDR)
Bestrack - Wishmaker (CDR)
Louis La Roche - Sunshine Hotel (Ever After Records)
Louis La Roche - Super Soaker (CDR)

Junior Jack - Rocktron (2007)

2009-05-26T13:21:00.003+01:00

Junior Jack - Rocktron - 2007 - Play It Again Sam

Not really an old or rare track but too good not to post! If your a fan of Alan Braxe & Fred Falke you'll love this! Great use of a sample, funky bass and 80's synths.

Junior Jack - Rocktron

Priors - What You Need (2009)

2009-05-23T01:16:00.003+01:00

What a great way to start things off again! I recieved an email in my inbox from mr Romain Seo better know to you as Raw Man!
He told me that 'Priors' is a new project in which himself and Yann Destal from Modjo will be releasing an album.

So here it is the first single and teaser of whats to come, released soon in the UK on Eye Industries.

Priors - What You Need

And i'm back...

2009-05-07T14:59:00.007+01:00

Ok, so its been a while. The blog got too popular and thats not really what i wanted at the time. I think french house is back, not as big as before i know but it's never going to be because theres more genres and avaliablity now. People like His Madjesty Andre, Grum, Sidechains, Sound Stream, Axel Le Baron, Phonat and The Phantoms Revenge are here to show us that it's alive and kicking.

So where do i come in? Well i'm gunna post rare old gems and new artists that are under the radar. Posts will start again soon...

Sedat - Genesis (2008)

2009-01-23T13:21:00.007Z

Sedat - The Turkish Avenger - Genesis (2008) - Vulture Music

Released last year, Sedat returns with two fresh tracks. With Alan Braxe lending a helping hand, Sedat shows a more synth side to his production than his previous work on Crydamoure.

Side A is Genesis. Clicky snyths, talk-box vocals and driving bass make the song hard to resist.

Side B is Sunrise. Very Alan Braxe and Fred Falke, its an 80's chord stomper. Louis x

Sedat - Genesis (Original Mix)
Sedat - Sunrise (Original Mix)

Fantom - Faithfull (1997)

2008-12-19T12:46:00.007Z

Fantom - Faithfull - 1997

A forgotten French House classic!
Released back in 1997 on Source Records, this was Fantoms only release. Driving bass, great phasing and train horns make this track a winner.
Louis x

Fantom - Faithfull (Original Mix Par Fantom)

Lacquer - Behind (2003)

2008-12-05T11:35:00.011Z

Lacquer - Behind - 2003

Lacquer (real name Stéphane Jounot) made is debut on a double a side Kitsune release back in 2002 with a song called 'X'. With this little push he was soon picked up by Sony BMG and released his killer track 'Behind' in 2003. People loved the song so much Armand Van Helden and Cosmo Vitelli both did remixes of the track.

Personally i love this track. Its got a Alan Braxe meets We In Music (Raw Man) feel to it. Louis x

Lacquer - Behind

Don't worry...I'm not dead!

2008-11-28T21:23:00.010Z

Sorry i haven't posted in weeks! To make it up to you, heres a post of some random rare songs for eardrums :) You can thank me when you can't keep them off repeat on your ipod...

Jess & Crabbe - Crack Head

American French Machine - American French Machine

Dynamic Rockers - Thinking Of You

Oh and thanks for the comments!

Louis x

Aloud - Aloud (2004)

2008-11-09T21:59:00.012Z

Aloud - Aloud (2004)

Ok, so this time around its a mixed bag. Heres some of my favourite tracks of French House duo 'Aloud' from their self-titled album.

Aloud are a really underrated duo, who are apart of the 'Daft Crew' and who have had the likes of Armand Van Helden, Eric Prydz, Mylo and Play Paul remix them. Their sound is unique, strong vocals and deep disco bass make the songs groovey, funky as well as catchy. If you haven't heard of them until now, i strongly recommend you buy their album. Louis x

Zshare Links:

Sex & Sun Part II

Undersea

Sebastien Leger - Rock It And Play (1997)

2008-11-02T00:23:00.012Z

SAMP-001 - Blackjack Sampler 001 - Sebastien Leger - Rock It And Play - 1997

Released '97, this Blackjack sampler is extremely rare. So rare that it contains a track called 'Rock It And Play' by Sebastien Leger, that isn't on any other release. Leger released his first EP in '99 and this track wasn't on it, so this is his debut.

Louis x

Zshare Link:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/507731814927225e/

En Masse - Paura (2008)

2008-10-30T21:27:00.010Z

En Masse - Paura - 2008

En Masse are two Italian guys, Supa and Meno, who this year have released their second EP 'Italian Farlo Meglio' on Hypotron Records. The EP is very electro but the third track 'Paura' has a strong Disco French Filter feel about it. Lots of bass licks and 909 drums, and a 'Rollin' n' Scratchin' sounding synth brings a nice touch.

Louis x

http://www.myspace.com/enmasseclub

Zshare Link:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/50676261df77053f/

Chili Hifly - Is It Love? (2000)

2008-10-29T11:49:00.016Z

Kontor087 - Chili Hifly - Is It Love? (Les Rythmes Digitales Remix) - 2000

I'm not a fan of the original. It got re-released time and time again on different labels from 1998-2000. It wasn't until the 2000 release that the German label 'Kontor' included this remix that blows the original out of the water! It has a long intro but once the groove sets its a real funky tune. Stuart (LRD) even uses the noise of a can being opened (much like Thomas Bangalter's 'Club Soda'). Louis x

Zshare Link:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5061452278baa220/

Phunk Phreaks & Doc Phatt - Dance With Me (2003)

2008-10-27T19:38:00.016Z

ATTR001 - The Phunk Phreaks & Doc Phatt - Dance With Me (Horny United vs Phunk Phreaks mix) - 2003

Zshare Link:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/50544437047e2011/

Released in 2003, this was the first release on German label 'Attractive'. Though German, this song is very french indeed (listen out for the Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - 'intro' sample as well)

Play Paul - Once You Go (2005)

2008-10-23T11:58:00.024+01:00

BLACKJACK 028 - Play Paul - Once You Go - 2005

A1 - Once You Go (Club Version)
B1 - Once You Go (Dub Version)
B2 - Once You Go (Radio Edit)

Sharebee Link:
http://sharebee.com/afd8a475

This was Play Paul's only release on the Blackjack label. Since around 2005 the label took a strong direction more into electronic house. This record was released at the time of the crossover.