Electronic, Mix | Kitsuné Soleil Mix 2 // Pyramid – The Summer Mixtape
Posted by Spice on June 19, 2013
The preternaturally chic folks at Kitsuné have just released two summer mixes that are chock full of warm weather jams for your listening pleasure. The first is a little minimix from Jerry Bouthier and Gildas Kitsuné; if you’re into nu-disco and funky electropop, this is your new mainstay. Hot Chip, Yelle, Viceroy, Tiny Dragons and many more are folded and blended into this brief but awesome mix. This is a great way to gear up for summer fetsival season — or, alternatively, to switch up the rotation in your car. Second is a longer (but just as groovy) mixtape from French producer Pyramid, which features great tracks from Gesaffelstein, Gigamesh, Alex Metric, and of course Pyramid himself. Tracklists after the jump (with song-by-song comments from Jerry Bouthier, in the case of the minimix).
Free Download: Kitsuné Soleil Mix 2
Free Download: Pyramid – The Summer Mixtape
Moombahton, Techno | Alesia – Otho & Andrea // Tune In Crew – Tous dehors
Posted by Spice on April 30, 2013
I’m not sure why I’m lumping these tracks together. They’re really only similar in that that they are cool, free, and happen to have been written by French producers. But given that we’re now only a few weeks away from Random Access Memories, it seems sort of appropriate to cast a spotlight on some of France’s brightest up-and-comers. So, without further adieu…
First up, two new tracks from Alesia, whom you may recall recently made waves with the
now-omnipresent “Bird Machine.” Be advised: “Andrea” and “Otho” are not trap — both are dark, industrial techno carefully calibrated to get inside your head. Fellow Parisian Gesaffelstein would undoubtedly approve. If this is your poison, hop on the free DLs…and if not, do me a favor and give it a chance. Relative newcomers though they may be, Alesia are definitely a duo to keep your eyes on.
Next (and finally) we have a really interesting track that’s currently putting a gigantic smile on my face. I’m not sure what it is about “Tous dehors” — the languorous moombah bassline, the steel drum (and all the dancehall flavor it imparts), the French samples…but something about this gels fantastically when it probably shouldn’t. Super chouette!
RnB | Gautier – Untamed Flowers (feat. Jeffrey dè Soul, Jules & Louis)
Posted by W8 on April 23, 2013
Dazzling us with a rich R&B production comes French producer Gautier partnered with vocalist Jeffrey Dè Soul, and Louïs who combs the beat with a neat touch of lingering guitar. Altogether this conglomerate delivers, and it’s obvious they would… As if R&B coming out of Paris, France could be any more legitimate.
Free Download: Gautier – Untamed Flowers (feat. Jeffrey dè Soul, Jules & Louis)
House, Indie, Pop | Say Lou Lou – Julian (Monsieur Adi Remix)
Posted by W8 on April 10, 2013
French producer, Monsieur Adi delivers a remix of ”Jullian” that is ever so perfectly cleansing. Officially set to release on May 6th, it’ll be enshrined on repeat a little bit more than constantly until then. Best to have yourself a listen.
Trap | Stromae – Humain à l’eau (Dj Snake Remix) / DJ Snake & Alesia – Bird Machine [Preview]
Posted by Spice on February 20, 2013
And here we have some straight bombs from French producers DJ Snake and Aleisa. The above preview for “Bird Machine” notably made its way into Knife Party’s recent set in the RISE digital music festival on turntable.fm after Mixify’s servers couldn’t handle the heat, and is easily some of the best trap I’ve heard in a long time. If you’re into it and need it now, fear not; it’s set to drop tomorrow as part of a mini EP on Mad Decent’s Jeffree’s imprint. Below, we’ve got some legitimate swag for your ears that for whatever reason is made even swaggier by the fact that it’s all happening in French. Fact: the awesomeness of that drop negates the need to understand what he’s saying, anyway. Free DL; no brainer.
Progressive House | The Temper Trap – Trembling Hands (Magnus & Timon Remix)
Posted by Middy on June 19, 2012
French duo Magnus & Timon building off of the success of their widely supported “Walking Alone” remix and their “Somebody I Used to Know” remix, have released another great remix, this time of The Temper Trap, who’s “Sweet Disposition” became the target of Dirty South & Axwell in their sublime remix of the song. They craft a build with quick snare, manipulation of the vocals, creating an ominous beginning with quick key strokes that creates a great anticipation for the eventual drop. The first drop kicks in the same elements of the build with a growling synth underneath that is featured prominently. The interlude evokes the vocals from the original track, bringing us the second and longer break of the track with an unmistakable synth melody with the growling undertone and a thumping bass that gives the track a steady climb all the way to the end. I have had this track on repeat for the past several days, helping me get through the work day and I am confident that this will become a regular in your rotation very quickly.
House, Preview | Eva Simons – I Don’t Like You (Fred Falke Remix)
Posted by Spice on May 1, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lox2Gzwvukk
Fred Falke is one of the great unsung heroes of electronic music. Yes, he has a considerable following and has been in the game for a long time, but for whatever reason I feel like he’s never fully given the spotlight. But perhaps that’s how he likes it. His understated yet musically lush remixes are always in keeping with the best of the French house tradition — melodic, disco-tinged, and eminently danceable. They’re also often so excellent that they quietly eclipse the original tracks (Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” is a fantastic song, but Fred Falke’s remix has become the platonic ideal for me).
Falke’s latest remix, of the Zedd-produced “I Don’t Like You,” is a perfect example of his ability to fix something that wasn’t technically broken to begin with. He isolates Eva Simons’s powerful vocals and weaves in a new melody with a much more interesting chord progression, which beautifully showcases that almost ecstatic harmony in the chorus. No adrenaline-baiting builds, no airhorn samples or superfluous synthwork; this is just good old fashioned electronic music at its very best. I’m even feeling this over Nicky Romero’s remix, which has been getting heavy airplay on BBC Radio One lately and is sure to see more in the coming weeks. Preview Fred Falke’s remix in full below and look for it to drop on Interscope on May 22.