Françoijack is a long time activist in the art/music scene in Bretagne, the west part of France. He discovered the illegal raves in the early 90’s, and since then, his passion for this music and the original spirit of this culture (funkyness, underground, DIY, party, multidisciplinary approach) has never left him since :”our philosophy is to keep on the soul of the early raves, by mixing and crossing arts, people and 80es sounds in modern features.” This why he is still there, 25 years after his first rave parties as a promoter, staying active, keeping updated about the scene and the new talents, always starting new projects : running the art gallery DMA, the Vielspaß label (The Mick Wills Ep was among the Best of 2015 Juno List), throwing the wild Bargain parties (usually sold out), producing music or deejaying as Françoijack / Bocaccio, organizing all kind of designers fairs, creative flea markets and so on.

Françoijack n’est pas né de la dernière pluie. Tombé dans le chaudron des raves bretonnes au début des années 90, il n’a jamais lâché l’état d’esprit originel de ces rassemblements underground (fête, ouverture, débrouillardise, underground, approche pluri-disciplinaire) et l’applique à toutes ses activités, qui sont nombreuses : la galerie d’art DMA, le label Vielspaß (Le Ep de Mick Wills Ep figure parmi the Best of 2015 Juno List), ses djs sets ou ses productions sous le nom de Françoijack / Bocaccio, les soirées Bargain (la plupart du temps sold out), des marchés de designers, des défilés de modes de jeunes créateurs . “Our philosophy is to keep on the soul of the early raves, by mixing and crossing arts, people and 80es sounds in modern features”, voilà sa ligne de conduite. 

He’s introducing to us the next releases on Vielspaß :

The Vß 007 is the EP  from Electrosexual Feat. Hard Ton “I’m your machine” that goes with 3 remixes, including one from Antoni Maiovvi who has already signed a track on our label. This acid – electrodiscofunk hitl is a killer in clubs.

Le Vß 007 est l’Ep d'”Electrosexual Feat. Hard Ton – I’m your machine” accompagné de 3 remix dont un d’Antoni Maiovvi qui a déjà signé un track sur notre label. Cette petite perle Acid electrodiscofunk est une vraie balle de club !

The Vß 008 is a compilation of newcomers on our label : 6 tracks / 6 artists almost unknown, except Ringard.  We did a collab with the Made festival that takes place in Rennes in may. We liked their idea to associate party promoters and local labels to the programmation of the festival, which gives us an opportunity to find out new local talents and produce them. Here is the crowdfunding link with the record in pre-sale.

Le Vß 008 sst un various des newcomers sur notre label : 6 tracks / 6 artistes quasi inconnus en dehors de Ringard. Nous l’avons réalisé en corrélation avec le Festival Made qui se déroule en mai à Rennes. Nous avons aimé l’idée de Made d’associer les promoters et labels locaux à la prog du festival, cela nous donne l’occasion de découvrir les talents locaux et de les produire.
Voici le lien du kiss kiss bank bank avec le disque en prévente.

Expect future releases from Bertoli, Kelton Prima, Dmitry Distant, Dimitri Veimar, Eleven Pond, Mick Wills, Conformance, Dramatis personae, A-sim, Martin Dupont…

Dean & Deluca – Chapter 1 (M-Plant)
Extrawelt – Dark Side Of my Room (Cocoon Recordings)
Femminielli Noir – Me gusta el dolor (Mind Records)
Time Zone – Praise god (Antler-Subway)
Klankman – Dangerous night (Bunker Records)
Elec pt1 – I’m a Freak (Bunker Records)
James “Jack Rabbit” Martin – Rabbit Trax 1 (Still Music)
Pankow – Das Vodkalied (Contort Yourself)
Tense – Disconnect Myself (Beau Wanzer Adjustment) (Mannequin)
In Aeternam Vale – La Piscine (Minimal Wave)
Helena Hauff – Hiemal Quietus (Lux rec)
Z-Bomb – Keepers Of The Cheese (Bunker Records)
Unknown (Superstition records)
Mike Henk – Untitled (Pulsar Recordings)
John Heckle – Voices And Visions (Tabernacle Records)
Darren Price – Airspace (Novamute)

Dj Nomad aka Hans has grown up in Germany, surrounded by a mix of cultures. The 1st record he bought was “Parallell Lines” by Blondie, maybe a premonitory title when you know how many bridges he will build later, between the Afro-Caribean, Latin & Tropical grooves and the electronic beats culture in general. It’s also no surprising that he quickly moved from the original italo-disco to the Afro/Cosmic Disco fusion, promoted by djs such as Beppe Loda. Honestly, I share one point with Dj Nomad, we love music and that’s it. The music selection on 716 is as wide as Dj Nomad’s musical tastes.

He is reknown among other crate diggers as one of the most knowledgeable djs when it comes to African & Tropical music, and especially Western African music; partly because he didn’t start to dig it 8 years ago when it started to become hype again (it was already in the 70/80’s). Lately, his Africaine 808 project, alongside with Dirk Leyers (who did the Closer Musik with Mathias Aguayo), became so popular that if you haven’t heard of Dj Nomad yet, you’ll surely have of Africaine 808. His Vulkandance parties in Berlin (but also a record label) became THE reference when it comes to electropical raving party; yes this is another one of his specificities, when he’s playing as a dj, he knows how to evolve from old school African music to pure techno. When you have more and more djs playing tropical electronic beats, it remains very rare to meet people who are comfortable with both; a bit like in the early 90’s, when it was so rare to have someone who loves house as much as hip hop. Nowadays the musical frontiers tend to fade away, but still, dj’s usually dont play soukouss and techno the same night. Ah, last but not least, once he is on the desks, he is like a machine and can play for hours.

716lavie.com organise sa 1ère soirée musicale à Paris le samedi 23 avril au 9B, 68, boulevard de la Villette, Paris (75020), métro : Colonel Fabien ou Belleville, entrée gratuite.

He’ll play at the first 716 Party ever (after 9 years of existence), alongside with the French record seller and dj, Boulo Disjoké, and this is something big. For the occasion, both have recorded a special mix. Boulo Disjoké has made a mix dedicated to the Afro-Caribbean music that was played in the African bars and restaurants in Paris in the 70/80’s.

Dj Nomad’s selection is like a compilation about the Cameroonian Diaspora in Paris in the 80’s :  100% Cameroonian Modern Soul + Disco, Parisian production. We can say that the African scene from that time in Paname (nickname from Paris) has been well represented here. Dig it here and come saturday in Paris at le 9B to hear this guy live, free entrance, 8PM-2AM, the rest is history.

To illustrate this mix, we wanted to use a photo from that era. It was hard to find some in google, until I discovered the amazing work of Bill Akwa Betoté who covered all this scene during twenty years. His work is a unique and exceptional testimony about this scene that has been a cornerstone in the musical and cultural life in Paris. What was happening in Paris at the time was having an influence abroad, some foreigners had their first contact with African music in Paris. Have a look at these photos from Bill they speak by themselves and don’t tell me you don’t want to just travel in time and dance with those people right now. I choose a photo from Princess Erika because the shot is off the hook and she is originally from Cameroon.

Antoni Maiovvi, is a producer, originally from Bristol, now located in Berlin. He is the creator of the horror disco. He loves disco, but hates most of the house music 🙂 He loves Goblin and Tangerin Dream. Antoni Maiovvi is not his real name and Anton Maiof neither.

He runs the label Giallo Disco with his partner in crime, the Greek producer Vercetti Technicolour, not his real name neither. “Giallo is an Italian word initially used from the 1930s to classify mystery and crime pulp fiction, then employed from the 1960s to refer to more disturbing, psychological films that influenced the slasher genre personified by Argento’s movies.” (excerpt from the Quietus article mentioned below). Matiovvi loves Argento’s movies atmospheres and music. He has produced for labels such as Cyber Dance records, run by the Magic Wave crew (Ali Renault, Casionova & Spruxxx), J.A.M. Traxx, Crimes Of The Future, Flight Recorder, but also metal label Foreign Sounds, Tusk Wax where he recorded with TX Connect, Vivod.
His next releases are : Antoni Maiovvi – Autoguerra 12″ (Lurid Music), Antoni Maiovvi – My Moon 7″ (Giallo Disco)

He has given a great interview on the Quietus. A few things to know about him, found in his “Learning” article on his website  :

– “Just because I like horror movies doesn’t mean I hate women”

– “I’m not really into “obscure” shit. I know my tastes are maybe mainstream weird, but we’re more likely to have a really good chat about Robocop. Actually, Verhoeven in general.”

– “I know almost nothing about dance music, I didn’t actually hear Plastikman until a few years ago, I’m still learning stuff. Also, I don’t really “get” house music, please don’t call my music house. I have nothing against it (might be a lie, I think 95% of it is really really awful), but I don’t understand it’s appeal, I don’t (consciously) listen to it and I certainly don’t make it.”

If I resume, this “I Ain’t Fungified About No Legrification Noways” Mix can be considered as a sexual disco horror mix full of fun and dedicated to women.

Jacula – Magister Dixit
Consumer Electronics – Murder The Masters
Profligate – Can’t Stop Shaking (12” Mix)
DRP – Front And Rear
The Soft Moon – Desertion (Phase Fatale Remix)
Hard Corps – Je Suis Passee (Club Mix)
Inhalt – Black Sun (Timothy J Fairplay Remix)
MMT8 – The Growler
Drvg Cvltvre – Charge Of The Haploids
Dr Phibes – Acid Story
Pleasure Model – International Geographic
Steffi & Dexter – Rosser
Antoni Maiovvi – Redruth
Gesloten Cirkel – Chasing Away The Night
Ash Ra Temple – Sunrain