Cybernetic house meets synth maniac IDM on this new dance-ready oddball by the Saint-Étienne scene stalwart Farkoner
After a short hiatus between 2021 and early 2023, the Lyon-based collective PRISME is now back with a third VA compilation within a year, introducing Doble Camí. A ten-tracker with a casting consisting of the label’s regular relatives such as Veil and Emptone, and inviting some breaking-through producers of the French scene from the like of RAVL, Brahim Lumière or Farkoner, whom we are now repping the passionate effort to create such captivating dance music crafting. This new compilation gives another great vision of what the new club scene of Rhône Alpes (and beyond) is obsessed with, sonically speaking. Say, a caring attention to blend club music styles like breakbeat, IDM and bass music, with a sense of novelty in terms of sound crafting.
Formerly known as part of the cherished and exploratory team of the Saint-Étienne’s Positive Education Festival, with whom he is still occasionally active for deejaying duties, Jonas Boucaud aka Farkoner produces music which breaks boundaries between house, UK Funky, Grime and IDM. With a mixture of highly melodic synth motifs, syncopated beats and rebounding bass patterns, he is the author of a quite melancholic bunch of tracks that have been released on labels such as Boukan Records and Vernacular Records, to only name a few.
Farkoner is now back with “Ascension 0” which you can now hear above the present article. This tune is a perfect fusion of what the artist is capable of since he first appeared on the scene: a collision of intricate drum tailoring and tonal arrangements that are resonating in the frequency spectrum to make us bounce as our hips were automatically sucked up in a dance spiral. All these sonic elements are also embodied with his signature sci-fi-inspired sound design which reminds both the works of a Night Slugs’ era Jam City or even an Ultramajic boss Jimmy Edgar, thanks to his naively colourful but nonetheless ear-challenging production style. Another house and bass-inspired anthem by an artist who you shouldn’t sleep on, like, really.
Pre-order PRISME’s new VA compilation Doble Camí on Bandcamp, out December 5.
