French music from the ’80s saw blurring lines between pop and electronic culture, from Heldon’s gritty techno to Avant-garde Neo Folk by Video Listz; this collection showcases this moment of cultural melting pot.
Saint-Etienne’s Metaphor Collectif produces some of the heaviest industrial, Lyon’s gonzo rave revivalism is provided by BFDM, and Pilotwings seamlessly combine breakbeats, 90s rave ambience, synth throwbacks and post peak time bangers into psychedelic post peak time bangers for post peak time banging tunes.
Jeanne Mas
Jeanne Mas is a French singer best known for her catchy electropop singles in the 1980s. Her songs became huge hits across France and continental Europe, starting with “Toute premiere fois.” Perhaps her most renowned composition, though, is “Marcia Baila,” written as an ode to an Argentine dancer who died of cancer in Paris in 1981; Mas would later go on to enjoy an impressive solo career.
Electronic music relies heavily on collaboration among its artists and producers, and artists often work together with designers to produce groundbreaking tracks. Furthermore, these partnerships often blur the line between fashion and music by producing iconic visuals or stage costumes which has helped further popularize this genre.
Collaboration has always been at the center of French electronic music’s growth and evolution. Early French techno musicians would meet regularly at clubs and festivals to exchange ideas and perform their music – an influence which continues to shape today’s French electronic music scene.
Although traditional musical forms remain central to French electronic music, its scene is rapidly developing. New artists are adding fresh perspectives to the genre by pushing expectations and setting new limits; creating their own distinct voice for an already established music genre while expanding what electronic music can encompass.
French electronic music scene is filled with creativity and talent, having pioneered numerous groundbreaking subgenres over its long history of innovation and experimentation. Today’s talented young producers continue this legacy by blending different styles and genres to craft unique sounds – artists such as Madeon, Surkin, Bobmo, Brodinski and Gesaffelstein are just a few examples.
France’s music has had an immense impact on the international electronic music scene. Its diverse genres have inspired new trends and shaped how other countries produce their own. French electronic music has had an outsized effect on dance music worldwide with its distinct rhythms and pulsing synthesizers creating an explosion of dance music that has spread worldwide.
Breakbot
While Germans were creating experimental soundscapes and British were turning early electronic work into prog, French musicians focused on creating danceable electronic music that remains today. Daft Punk and Justice led this movement while many lesser-known artists developed their own distinct styles of French electronic music.
Julien Briffaz and Cosmo Vitelli, better known by their collective moniker Bot’Ox, are two acclaimed examples of this trend. As solo artists and producers they established Bot’Ox in 2006 to take a darkly humorous approach to techno music productions. Their debut album Babylon by Car is testament to this; though its high concept might make for difficult listening it remains enjoyable and captivating nonetheless.
The group’s sound is absolutely remarkable and showcases the variety of talents within French electronic music scene. Their combination of trip hop, hip-hop and synthpop elements creates an unforgettable experience for fans of these genres. Additionally, this duo also produces stunning videos which show off all aspects of French electronic music scene.
Thibaut Berland stands as another representative of this era of French electronic music. Best known for his remixes, he has worked with popular artists like Royksopp and Digitalism to produce iconic hits like 2010 single Baby I’m Yours which continues to play on radio stations worldwide and was even included as part of an award-winning racing video game!
Berland stands out from his French compatriots with its distinctive disco sound, unlike Daft Punk which often blends techno and pop elements together. By Your Side was released as his 2012 debut album and built entirely out of recycled materials from late ’60s and early ’70s disco music; though not popular domestically it gained him an ever-expanding global following of disco traditionalists who continue to listen today. Still Waters was then released a year later as an impressive progression and departure from By Your Side’s predecessor – leaving many music enthusiasts impressed with him!
Fakear
In the 1980s, French bands and artists quickly adopted Synth-Pop. While it ranged from good to terrible contributions, their influence made its mark on French musical life for some time. Some like “Partenaire Particulier” embraced it entirely and became one-hit wonders; others such as Lio and Stephane Eicher became longstanding favourites with songs ranging from corny to sublime.
Recently, French artists such as Xeno & Oklander, Automelodi, and Gargantua have kept the flame alive with contemporary electronic music. All three acts deliver hits that combine elements from both old school and new school styles; these groups make an excellent starting point if you are new to French electronic music.
Busy P is an emerging French producer who blends funk and disco into dreamy vibes that will have you moving to his music. Additionally, he serves as a DJ and has played at numerous clubs around Europe; his latest hit “Eyes on Me” features amazing female vocals which blend effortlessly into deep house beats.
After several years of silence, he returned with a new album that showcases his songwriting ability. A tribute to his late mother, it includes acoustic and electric guitars, saxophone, piano, vocals, and the powerful song’s message about family and love.
Fakear has made waves on the French electronic music scene thanks to his warm soundscapes and complex production style, garnering comparisons to Daft Punk.
He is a true creative genius who draws influence from different cultures from around the globe, opening shows for major acts such as Bonobo and ODESZA. This young producer is on his way up and has an exciting future ahead of him.
The musical landscape is evolving quickly, as artists experiment with various genres. We can expect these trends to develop further over time; new artists with distinct soundscapes that combine diverse elements together into a coherent whole may emerge and some styles could even become mainstream.
The Psychedelic Furs
In the ’80s, many post-punk bands used music to tell a story through lyrics. From New Order’s innovative “Temptation” track to James’s poignant ode to loneliness on “Sit Down”, many post-punk groups found ways to engage their audiences through words alone. No band could match The Psychedelic Furs for its ability to use lyrics as storytellers quite like they did with songs such as “Pretty in Pink” and “Sister Europe”.
But the Psychedelic Furs didn’t rest there: their second album “Talk Talk Talk,” received great acclaim by music critics and boasted a hit single in “Heartbreak Beat.” Producer Steve Lillywhite actually produced this record even though he normally worked with different artists over time.
The success of The Psychedelic Furs allowed them to push further on their next release, 1987’s Midnight to Midnight. This record was more overtly commercial than their prior work and yielded top 30 hits with “Heartbreak Beat.” Nonetheless, lead singer Richard Butler later described Midnight to Midnight as hollow and vapid.
The Psychedelic Furs were famed for their catchy melodies and dance-floor friendly beats, but also for their poetic lyrics. “Sister Europe” spoke directly to listeners’ fears of a world seemingly falling apart through vivid imagery that provoked profound responses in listeners.
Since their formation, the Psychedelic Furs have continued to tour and release albums under various lineups. Their greatest hits collection Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live was released in 2000; since then there have been indications that there may be new studio material forthcoming from them. Though original members have moved on, their musical genius lives on.