New Music BEAT
by Neil Atherton

Rentrée releases

Etienne de Crécy
"Tempovision"
(Solid/V2)
If you were acquainted with Etienne de Crécy's music before his “Of-Super-Discount-Fame” monicker, “Tempovision” will not fail to delight. In the mid '90s when he founded Solid with Alex Gopher and recorded as Motor Bass and La Chatte Rouge with Philippe Zdar, the foundations of the French Touch were laid. The more discerning fan of pre-French Touch production, however, will prize the off-kilter electro breaks, some of which, namely on the laconic “Rhythm&Beat,” are stripped right down to the gritty bone of electronic minimalism. That they rub shoulders with his more familiar, left-of-center house tracks, which employ an inspired if not wholly original formula, will appeal to the Daft Punk/Cassius massive, while confirming the French man’s long-standing pedigree. Take “Am I Wrong?” for example, all kick drums, filter switches and electronic weirdness without the cheese factor. Perhaps it is the concept of Tempovision – the rhythmic, hypnotic pattern of constant TV zapping (Etienne’s own observation) – that syncopate his music and maintain his reputation as the sagacious, Gallic grandaddy of house music. Out Sept 26

Underworld
Everything, Everything
(JBO/V2)
This live album from one of dance music’s most acclaimed live acts, marks the group’s 10th year in the music business and captures their most memorable moments from concerts in Belgium to Japan. It also marks the departure of DJ and programer Darren Emerson, the man behind the beats and the dance influence. Pioneers of the electronic/indie crossover, Underworld are responsible for the kind of commercial but credible sound that is now known as mainstream pop. All the crowd-pleasers are thus suitably present and correct, not forgetting, just in case you never heard it, the anthemic "Born Slippy.” With only three, albeit seminal albums, 10 years and one band member behind them, could this “Best Of” in-disguise denote a lingering sterility in Underworld’s once sharp needle of inspiration? Out Sept 5

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Xen Cuts
(Ninja Tune/Pias)
If the name Ninja Tune means nothing to you, then you’ve possibly missed some of the most exploratory, ground-breaking music made over the last decade. Xen Cuts is your opportunity to catch up. Selections of everything from abstract hip hop to experimental latin-electro feature on this, the definitive 10th anniversary box-set, including artists past and present, such as Coldcut, Up, Bustle&Out, The Infesticons, Roots Manuva and The Cinematic Orchestra. The trailblazing English label has nurtured a peerless sound and a roster of artists so diverse along the spectrum of contemporary electronica, that it takes three CDs – one of which is the Xen Rare Cuts disc (featuring all those once impossible-to-find deleted-editions) – to chronical their illustrious heritage. Ninja Tune: need we say more? Out Sept 18

Out now…

Madonna “Music” (Maverick/Warner) Mads is back with Mirwais and Orbit behind the controls, for more electro pop.
Goldfrapp “Felt Mountain” (Mute/Labels) Francoise Hardy-influenced chanteuse Alison Goldfrapp teams up with cinematic instrumentalist Will Gregory.
Bjork “Dancer In The Dark” (Barclay) Will the Icelandic’s music live up to the Von Triers’ movie?
V/A “Best Of Talkin' Loud” (Talkin’ Loud/Mercury) More 10th birthday compilation from Gilles Peterson’s stable.
Peaches “The Teaches Of Peaches”" (Kitty-Yo/Tripsichord) Dirty electro punk with the Chilly Gonzales collaborator.
Mekon “Relax With...” (Wall Of Sound/Labels) Breakbeat with some Marc Almond vocals.
Nigo “Ape sounds” (Mo’ Wax/Source) Abstract grooves educated in James Lavelle’s school of cool.

Beat Diary

The cream of Europe’s undergound musicians, labels, DJs, graphic designers and multimedia artists make their way to Paris Sept 7-17, for ten days of workshops, forums and conferences, bringing together sound and image through new media technologies...
Les Rendez-Vous Electroniques, organized by Technopol and hosted by the Centre Georges Pompidou. Daily interactive shows, debates and concerts. Highlights? Ninja Tune birthday party with Coldcut (live), DJ Food, Kid Koala (Fri 8). Sept 8-15, 12am to 8pm, free. Info: www.technopol.net

Mix Move 2000, at various venues in and around the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Parc de la Villette. Weekend of prestigious audiovisual entertainment. Highlights? Warp’ology with Plaid and Vlad live; Artefact vs. Kitty-Yo, including Zend Avesta (DJ set), Tarwater and Gonzales; R&S Records’ Meat Katie and Menlo Park; plus the French DMC final (scratching, beat juggling etc.). Sept 15-17, 2pm to 5am, 60-100F. Info: www.mixmove.com

Techno Parade, starting and finishing somewhere on the streets of Paris. Third street-level celebration of techno music in the style of Berlin's renowned Love Parade. Highlights? Losing yourself among 200,000 up-for-it ravers on the Champs-Elysées. Sept 16, all day, free. Info: www.technopol.net

“Afters” (or post-Parade parties to you and me), for those live-wires who just can’t get no sleep, come courtesy of Futuria, whose lineup boasts Romanthony, Superfunk (both live) and Josh Wink and Dave Clarke jockeying the discs at Le Zénith, Sept 16, 9pm, 100F. For other events check out www.magicgarden.org, www.wakeup-party.com and www.openhouse.fr

Venues
Centre Georges Pompidou rue St-Martin (pl Georges Pompidou), 4e, M° Châtelet/Les Halles, tel: 01 44 78 12 33
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie 30 av Corentin Cariou, 75930, M° Porte de la Villette, tel: 01 40 05 70 00
Le Zénith 211 av Jean Jaurès, Parc de la Villette, 19e, M° Porte de Pantin, tel: contact Futuria