Hey everyone - welcome back at the discotheque!
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We've reached the end of another month (jeez, time is going by too quickly for my liking...) - and it's time for another lowdown of the stuff I've been listening to over the last four weeks. While last month was a healthy mix of future funk, French house and electro - this month was a little different, as I leaned heavily on the late 90s filter house sound (with a few odd blog-era bits thrown in there for good measure!)
Let's get started!
Superfunk - Hold Up (2000)
To start this post off strong - I wanted to talk about the debut album from legendary French trio Superfunk. Released through Fiat Lux and Virgin at the peak of French touch's first wave - this is an extremely solid LP full of thumping, high quality, filter disco club jams, a strong cut n' paste aesthetic throughout, loads of fat beats and buckets of hip hop influence littered everywhere. I recently found this album at a local record store - so I bought it, and was thoroughly impressed upon first listen!
There's loads of awesome stuff in this album, and it's probably one of the most stylish (and funky) French house records I've listened to. There's appearances from so many great people - including the late legends Ron Carroll and Chicago's house hero Paul Johnson (rest in peace, legend!) - and this album can be used for any occasion - whether you're having fun at the beach, in the club, preparing to go on a night out, relaxing or just pondering about things. My favourite tracks include The Young MC, DJ LBR's excellent interlude, the titular track and It's Like Jazz.
Go and give it a spin sometime!
Cheek - Sunshine People (DJ Gregory Remix - 1996)
Although it's actually called Venus - if you got a ton of French house fans into a room and played this remix, they'd likely be singing the hook instantly. This legendary remix - released through Parisian label Versatile in 1996, has been one of my favourites for almost a year now - however I've been playing it a ton this month - especially after seeing it featured in Mia-Hansen-Love's incredible film Eden. A bright, shimmering slice of filter house which doubles down as an anthemic DJ tool - there's a reason why this is considered to be one of the most iconic examples of French touch. It's a bona fide classic which is ridiculously catchy, slamming and mighty fine.
I cannot believe it's three decades old. (Someone invent a time machine so I could live in this era!)
DJ Tonka - Security (1997)
Talk about an underground classic...
Released through his own label Uplifting sometime in 1997 - this simple disco house cut from German producer and DJ Tonka is certainly an interesting one. I've been spending the last week or so re-learning how to mix on vinyl - and this track is a massive staple of my sets. I found it for cheap at a charity store near me back in spring 2024 - and I bought it on sight because it's DJ Tonka - you can't really go wrong with the guy - especially as he was one of Daft Punk's major influences!
Although there's nothing groundbreaking about this track - and at times, it can be a little bit cheesy, and a product of it's time - it's still a super sweet jam that's really memorable, very playful at points and really, really deep. It's American sounding house made by a disco-influenced German guy. What's not to love?
Scott Grooves - Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Remix - 1998)
Building onto the topic of Daft Punk - this month, I've practically been obsessed with their legendary remix of Scott Grooves' Mothership Reconnection. Released through UK-based label Soma in November 1998 - this remix feels like an insanely brilliant pre-cursor to Discovery - it is relentlessly funky, filtery, epic, bad-ass, and one of the most incredible displays of talent for the legendary duo at their peak. Although I first heard it many, many years ago - it still hits the same today - and due to how well it is produced - I'd genuinely consider it one of the greatest French house tracks ever made. Fight me.
It's a massive ear worm and an even bigger classic. Play it loud!
Joey Chicago - Magic (2009)
Taking a step away from all of the great late 90s filter house cuts that have been featured in today's post - I wanted to shine a light on a ridiculously underrated banger from Germany's resident disco hero Joey Chicago. Released through Josh Hubi's label Beatism in November 2009 - Magic absolutely floored me upon first listen - as although it's relatively simple, it packs a massive punch and is one of the most funky, glitzy club weapons I've likely ever listened to (then again, what do you expect, it's freaking Joey!) - it's built with heavy production, excellent, bright sample trickery and it's an insanely clean house workout.
Give it a spin!
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Todd Edwards presents The Sample Choir - Feeling Lonely (1994)
Now, here's something a little bit different!
It annoys me slightly that I don't talk enough about the legendary work of New Jersey based producer and DJ Todd Edwards - so, starting with this post - I'm gonna change that, by talking about one of my personal favourites of his - which I discovered four years ago. Feeling Lonely is classic Todd - it's extremely groovy, upbeat and animated (in the best way possible!) - with some incredible micro-sampling techniques (something that he's known for worldwide!) and a tight, warm, one of a kind sound. It may be considered old to some, but it's just as fresh as the day it dropped to me. This right here, ladies and gentlemen - is a dope cut of sample based garage that deserves far more recognition!
Patrick Alavi - Spartacus (2002)
Released through legendary French label Vertigo in 2002 - the opening track for Patrick Alavi's iconic EP Club Sport shows Alavi at his absolute prime. Spartacus is a nine minute DJ tool which is insanely groovy, raw and dopamine inducing. It's one of those tracks that's a guaranteed crowd pleaser, a hypnotic classic and in general - it's just really, really well done. When it comes to the early 2000s wave of French touch - this is one of my ultimate picks!
Cassius - La Mouche (DJ Falcon Metal Mix - 1999)
To end out this post - I thought I'd mention another one of my long standing favourites that I have been obsessed with this month. Another one of the most iconic, legendary cuts from French house's peak - in particular, this track came out in October 1999 - the DJ Falcon remix of Cassius' quirky chillout disco jam La Mouche is stunning. While the original is a little bit more laid-back and playful - Falcon flipped it on its head completely to make an incredible, filtery disco classic that almost sounds entirely original - apart from the fact that it repeatedly uses one of the main synth-lines from the original classic. This rework is built for smashing out at clubs, and is a guaranteed dance floor destroyer - it's almost too funky (not that that's a bad thing, though!) - and if I had to sum this track up in three words? Instant. Dopamine. Hit.
There you have it, everyone!
I hope you've enjoyed reading today's post - be sure to give these epic tracks a listen if you haven't already - and as always, keep enjoying your stay at the discotheque.
You can find the full playlist for this post below!
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