Via: Beatport

“Whether you call it French house, filtered house, or French touch, the sound that Daft Punk helped make popular has an awesome legacy of producers and DJs who all take a unique approach to crafting that signature Gallic sound. Some have roots in disco, some in funk, and some in the film soundtracks of the 1980s. The collaborations, friendships, and even familial ties of these musicians created recognizable themes in the music that have continued to evolve over the last 15 years, with sampled grooves, live vocals, strong filters, and all sorts of unique production elements coming together for the perfect dancefloor prescription. So, if you dig Daft Punk, you’re about to really discover the wonder of French house with these 10 classic tracks. Enjoy.

Stardust – “Music Sounds Better With You” (1998)

It may have been released in 1998, but Stardust’s “Music Sounds Better With You” still sounds super-fresh today—it just doesn’t get old. Alax Braxe and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter laid down the instrumental for it, and Benjamin Diamond provided the catchy vocals. They decided to call themselves Stardust, and this was the only track they recorded together. The famous guitar lick is a sample from the the first few seconds of Chaka Khan’s hit “Fate.” Characteristic of the French touch sound, this tune homes in on one small disco element—the guitar riff—and crafts a memorable hook around it.

Together – “Together” (2000)

Alan Braxe’s cousin DJ Falcon and Thomas Bangalter comprised the duo Together, releasing only two singles: “Together” and “So Much Love to Give.” Both tracks feature a sampled vocal repeated non-stop throughout the entire track. But rather than getting tiring and redundant, the hypnotic and melodic nature of the loops tie all of the parts of the song together. The bassline plays a lead, melodic role on “Together,” giving it that disco groove.

Bob Sinclar – “I Feel For You” (2000)

From the 2000 album Champs Elysées, “I Feel For You” is a soulful, disco track through and through. The strings, splashy hats, and melodic bassline make this track a hit in every way. It paved the way for all French touch records to come, but also a lot of vocal-led house music in general.

Cassius – “La Mouche (DJ Falcon Remix)” (1999)

This one is a classic remix from DJ Falcon and became a huge club hit in its day with a filtered synth build-up, unrelenting hats, and lovely vocal samples.

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke – “Intro” (2000)

After his success with “Vertigo,” which debuted on Thomas Bangalter’s Roulé label, Alan Braxe started his own label, Vulture Music. One of his most popular releases was this record, which features Fred Falke’s bass playing. Braxe continued to work with Falke throughout the years on remixes and productions.

Cassius – “Feeling For You” (1999)

Cassius (aka Philippe Zdar and Boom Bass) have long been players on the French house scene—and still are today—releasing hit after hit like “La Mouche,” “The Sound of Violence,” and this hard-hitter from their 1999 LP.

Mr. Oizo – “Flat Beat” (1999)

Known for experimental musical compositions and film direction, Quentin Dupieux (aka Mr. Oizo) got his start by directing a music video for Laurent Garnier—and was later signed to Garnier’s F Communications label as a producer. It was “Flat Beat” that put Oizo on the map, with its LFO-heavy sub-bass and crossover potential that got it—and Dupieux’s Flat Eric puppet—picked up by Levi’s for an ad.

Lifelike – “Precious Diamond” (2003)

With its disco lazers and the hypnotically soothing vocal sample of Fox the Fox, this track exemplifies the evolving sound of French house, which explores the classic synth sounds of the ’80s.

DJ Mehdi – “Signatune” (2007)

Before his untimely death, DJ Mehdi collaborated with Daft Punk, Cassius, MC Solaar, Chromeo, and Busy P, amongst others, but “Signatune,” remixed here by Daft Punk’s Bangalter, is one of his best-known and most loved tracks.

Kavinsky – “Testarossa (SebastiAn Remix)” (2007)

Kavinsky’s music and production style evokes neon lights, convertibles, and cocaine. He has admitted to being greatly influenced by film soundtracks from the ’80s, which he absorbed throughout childhood. His original “Testarossa Autodrive” was inspired by the Ferrari of the same name, and when Mr. Oizo (a fellow film buff) heard it, he got Kavinsky signed to Record Makers. This remix by SebastiAn keeps the ’80s synth guitar line and adds the reverberating bottom-end, which bridges the ’80s electro and French nu-disco vibes.

DJ Mehdi photo via Purple Sneakers“