CHART BY AMADEUS

Paul-Aimé Girard AKA Amadeus, not to be confused with another creative mind of the classical period, represents the likeable youth of Paris: a very generous and nice soul, with a university background, positive and passionate, evolving among a great bunch of inseparable friends. Part of the DJ collective Exocet, he’s also a talented ambient and hypnotic techno DJ. We recommend to you his stunning mix “Introspection 2.0” in particular, showing one of his important facets: he’s one of the best gold diggers in our community. He’s also the very first member of it, having been invited while creating the group, and it’s an honour for us that he accepted to participate in our thematic charts.

THEMATIC SELECTION

CLASSIC

Discogs – Real Love EQ – Italy (Donato Dozzy & Giorgio Gigli Version) [Wagon Repair, 2008]


Amadeus: A dope classic has to be from two masters: Donato Dozzy & Giorgo Gigli. These two artists made me discover the realm of hypnotic techno. Their piece is a delightful association of acidulated bassline, tribal rhythms, and psychedelic textures. I think this is the track that I enjoy playing the most with.

DEEP

Alan Backdrop – Sirian [Ekar Records, 2014]


Amadeus: I really love the subaquatic feel that this track provides. I imagine myself swimming with the shoals of fishes, guided by this strong and raw beat, wandering among the kelp forests, in perfect harmony with the marine environment. The whole album “Eria” had a big impact on my musical path and is definitely my favourite one in Backdrop’s discography.

MENTAL

Refracted – Convolution 4 [Reaktivate, 2013]


Amadeus: Maybe one of the most mental tracks that I know from Refracted. So intense, mysterious, mind-bending, with very specific tribal percussions that I really like in Refracted’s work.

DARK

ASC – Fornax [Modern Cathedrals, 2021]


Amadeus: The dark side of hypnotic techno has always exercised a strong attraction on me: the immersion into a cosmic environment, where gravity doesn’t exist, where the body sensations totally disappear, is what let my head get lost in the void. ASC’s track in particular is a pure journey into the vortex. This raw – nearly industrial – bassline, combined with psychedelic textures, reminds me of some old Function tracks. Whether in drum’n’bass or techno, ASC’s prolific top productions deserve all respect. As often seen in the comments: “I’m a simple man. I see ASC, I buy”.

EXPERIMENTAL

Katatonic Silentio – Cartography Of Nowhere [Ilian Tape, 2021]


Amadeus: Broken rhythms, heavy bass, with some dub-ish explorations, “Cartography Of Nowhere” is a very intense work, containing palpable darkness and anxiety. It has also a very interesting futuristic flavour, provided by the mesmerising post-disco pads. I just can’t wait to attend her live show at the Positive Education Festival next November in Saint-Etienne.

DOPE BASSLINE

Ole-Ole – North Pole [Magnit, 2014]


Amadeus: Whenever I listen to this track, I feel fully enveloped by its deepness. The contrast between a massive bassline and the four-notes deep layer is so immersive. This former alias from Svarog is a very interesting project, with some very dark releases as well as colourful ones, such as this track.

OLD SCHOOL

Acid Jesus – Radium [Naïf, 2014]


Amadeus: Choosing one word to define this track is quite impossible. It reminds me of so many influences, between Detroit techno, dub, acid, IDM… I remember having discovered this track for the first time in the wonderful Griessmuehle; I couldn’t stop bouncing and dancing. Just having this memory in my mind gives me goosebumps.

TO START A MIX

Paleowolf – Mooncall [Prometheus Studio, 2018]


Amadeus: “Mooncall”, with its tribal and ritualistic flavour, is an immersion into the primitive past; an invitation to revive the ancestral practices and reconnect with the spirits. I discovered the piece thanks to an ambient mix by Solace and felt completely hypnotised by the palaeolithic voice. I often use the track to introduce both dark and punchy techno sets, but also for more tribal ambient-oriented selections.

FOR THE PEAK TIME

Vardae – Layer 3 [Cosmic Wave Records, 2021]


Amadeus: “Layer 3″‘s harsh beat, with the psy layers haunting the brain and the dark atmosphere that emanates from them, together create a very exhilarating experience. I’ve been following Vardae for a long time now, and I’m always impressed by the growing quality of his releases. His recent work on Lett Records is also worth listening to.

BONUS – TOPIC BROUGHT BY OUR GUEST

A DOPE MIX

MNMT Recordings: Garçon – Paral•lel Festival (2019)


Amadeus: This unforgettable set has been my highlight during the Parallel Festival in 2019, and I guess I have listened to it a hundred times. A delicious blend of ambient, downtempo and drum’n’bass tracks nourish the very trippy organic and spiritual vibes. I remember the crowd which was slowly dancing to it, being captivated by these slow and tribal rhythms, and building a deep connection with the artist. I’ve been particularly impressed by how the set has been perfectly executed technically, with the sensation of hearing the sound of the future. It has been an ideal introduction to master Donato Dozzy’s closing set.

WRITING BY: PAUL GIRARD & CEDRIC FINKBEINER | 30 JULY 2021

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CHART BY APOLLINE GUÉDON