Over-excited journalists and fans of the docile have consistently been crediting the rise of French house on more or less just a handful of figures:
St. Germain, Air, and
Etienne De Crecy. In Super Discount -- probably the most high-profile and revered compilations of the scene -- it's easy to understand why, but much harder to feel it. So welcome to the world of Parisian, armchair, sunset-soaked beats. Though so laid-back it sometimes falls backwards, if one gets as they say, dans l'ambience, it doesn't take too long before the rhythmic austerity of it all causes a cool smile.
La Chatte Rouge orchestrates their track with wise, string-led grooves, and
De Crecy's own "Prix Choc" excitedly shows off a lumping bassline just this side of Franco big beat. It's harder to stir any emotion up for many of the other premature spotlights here. From more airy keyboards (Mooloodjce's "Les 10 Jours Fous") to a beret-and-cigarette staring contest (Minos Pour Main Basse's "Tout Doit Disparaître"), the lack of unifying crests of more Anglo or German house starts to test one's patience. Comparatively, this is still a fine record. Despite
De Crecy trying too hard to maintain a cohesive musical statement, the breathless laissez faire take on dance music remains a crucial one. It'll just take some time before the exposition is out of the way for the real innovators to emerge. ~ Dean Carlson