Laurent Garnier ist ein großer Fan. Die Jungs von Night Slugs feiern es ebenfalls. Und in Paris füllen sie spielend leicht einen Club bis auf den allerletzten Quadratzentimeter. Ja, ich rede von ClekClekBoom, der Heimat von Künstlern wie Bambounou, French Fries und Ministre X. Im letzten Jahr habe ich bei einer Recherchereise nach Frankreich die sympathischen Jungs kennengelernt und viele Parallelen zu Labels wie Uncanny Valley oder Freude am Tanzen erkannt: Da zieht ein Haufen von Freunden sein Ding durch, man stärkt sich gegenseitig den Rücken und hat vor allem eines – Spaß!
Angefangen hat ClekClekBoom 2007 als kleine Onlineplattform für Musikdownloads – unter anderem für Re-Edits von Baile Funk, was mit der Zeit einen kleinen Hype in Paris ausgelöst hat. 2011 wurde aus ClekClekBoom ein vollwertiges Label und ist nun Heimat und Schmelztiegel für den basslastigeren Sound von Paris, dessen Einflüsse sich aus den zahlreichen Varianten von Ghetto House, Rap, Chicago, Detroit und eben Baile Funk speisen. Ihr letzter Neuzugang rekrutiert sich wie fast alle Künstler aus dem engen Freundeskreis: Aleqs Notal, 28 Jahre alt und gebürtiger Pariser. Sein Debüt “A.E.T” dreht immer noch regelmäßig seine Runden auf meinem Plattenspieler – Grund genug, nach einem Podcast für Ashore zu fragen.
Hi Aleqs, as we can hear in your debut “A.E.T” for ClekClekBoom, your music features heavily an Electro esthetic from the 80ies. Your main influence?
For “A.E.T”, I wanted to do something different. I think for a first release, its important to draw attention, particularly in house & techno stuff. I was born in the 80ies so of course its important for me to point this kind of influence. I think naturally I blend the old vibes with a more modern touch. I’m influenced by the Detroit and Chicago’s House so I wanted to try to recreate what I love with my own flow.
And what about French music. An influence for you?
Not really, I’am more influnenced by the U.S. music. Of course I was moved by the french touch when I was younger, but at this time I was listening to hip hop stuff. Now its different. I’m more focusing on House & Techno music and I see a lot of new french label doing it as well. Only a few of them inspires me like Antinote or My love Is Underground. There are also my friends French Fries & Bambounou who are the best french producers for me. I’ve much respect for their music approach. I met the guys 3 or 4 years ago. We were in the same scene, playing the same kind of music, and years after years we finally became very close. We are always buying some records, working in our studio and eating asian food together, it’s the only thing we do!
Let us sneak into your studio: Wich soft- or hardware is essential for you? And why?
For me the essential are the TR 606, the Drumtraks, the 909 and an old tape recorder I use for the drums. I love to saturate the 606 in my tape recorder for a crunchy hi-hat sound! After that, I make the arrangement in Logic 9 with few plug-ins. But I only start a new track after jamming with the pieces that I have.
What was the approach to your selection for Ashorecast #15?
Its always the same, for a mix like this, my selection depends of my mood. Sometimes I’m deep, sometimes not. I just pick in my records. When I have the selection, I try to make a little something for 1 hour or more. I always try to play exclusive tracks from me or the boys.
When I look in your record bag: Wich 12“ are always in there? And why?
I’ve always in my bag the “Take ’em Off” record by J.T.C. on Creme Organization. I like this acid track for his saturate’s and flange’s hihats. I also keep with me the “untitled” record from Chez Damier on KMS. Classic house tool! There are also classics from Ron Trent or Larry Heard, some Detroits stuffs like Kyle Hall or Jay Daniel, and of course some Clek material.
When you’re not listening to electronic music – what’s on heavy rotation?
It depends but the classics at home are “Stars In Your Eyes” from Herbie Hancock, “Trouble Man” from Marvin Gay, “Need Your Love So Bad” from Litte Willie John and “J’fais mon Job A Plein Temps” from Busta Flex.
Finally, please tell us your five favourite/most influential records ever!
- Ron Trent – The Alterlife (Prescription)
- Sharon Redd – Beat The Street (Prelude)
- Marcellus Pittman – Dirty (FXHE)
- Fingers. Inc – 326 Donnie (Gene Hunt’s Box Rework) (Rush Hour)
- Jeff Mills – The Clairvoyant (Purpose Maker)
Tracklist
1. Neville Watson – Hot & Heavy (Don’t Be Afraid)
2. Pender Street Steppers – Openin’ Up (PPU)
3. Aleqs Notal – Informal Utility (ClekClekBoom)
4. Patrick Scott – Cosmic Rituals (Still Music)
5. Unknown – B1 (Ossa Jams)
6. K Alexi – Tell Alexi (Pheerce Citi)
7. Bookworms – Physical Frame (Russian Torrent Versions)
8. NSDOS – Untitled (ClekClekBoom)
9. Kai Alce – On It (NDATL)
10. Mr. G – Pulze (The Raw Interpreter Rmx) (Warm Sounds)
11. Rick Wilhite – Get On Up!! (Theo Parrish’s Late Dub) (Rush Hour)
12. Hieroglyphic Being – If (Mathematics)
13. French Fries – This Kind Of Setup (ClekClekBoom)
14. Hakim Murphy – Chicago Head (Chicago Skyway Rmx)
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