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at a glance...
Hometown: Paris, France
Formed: 1993-1994
Members:
Philippe Zdar
Boombass (aka Hubert Blanc-Francard)
Bands in the family :
La Funk Mob, Motorbass, Super Discount/Etienne D'Crecy, Air, Daft Punk, MC Solaar, Dimitri from Paris, Björk, Basement Jaxx
Notes:
The impact of these two men on '90s dance music is easy to underestimate. Pre-Cassius, their output has been sporadic and diverse under a number of different monikers. Yet the artists formerly known as La Funk Mob were instrumental in starting two key movements in the evolution of dance. La Funk Mob's "Ravers Suck Our Sound," their remix of Bomb the Bass' "Bug Powder Dust," and production work for MC Solaar helped define trip-hop in 1993-4, and Zdar's involvement in Motorbass helped energize the funky French house sound of 1995-6. Their reinvention as Cassius and entrance into the increasingly impressive Astralwerks stable of artists suggest that these two pioneers could be poised to take their talent to a broader audience than ever before.
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Cassius
1999
Astralwerks, Released 1999
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You really should have Cassius on the brain right now. If the house remix of "Cassius 1999" isn't burning up your radio/nightclub/Walkman, you either live in the funkaphobic United States or something is rotten in the state of dance music. As statements of intent go, this mix (tacked on to the end of the LP) takes some beating - funky, fresh, and ready to party like it's...well, you get the picture.
The nice thing is, the LP lives up to this teaser, although not in the way you might expect. Those anticipating a solid hour of Daft Punkish four-to-the-floor mayhem may be surprised by breakbeat/electro tracks like "Crazy Legs," "Somebody," and the orginal, galloping mix of the single. Not to worry - house stompers like "La Mouche" and "Supa Crush" cover territory closer to that radio remix, and, frankly, the less house-flavored tracks more than hold their own in terms of dancefloor funkability.
Cassius also unearth some ground between house and breakbeat, to especially fine effect on mid-tempo groovers "Mister Eveready" and "Club Soixante Quinze" (try to scream that request to your local DJ). Anyone who's heard Motorbass or La Funk Mob won't be surprised by Boombass and Zdar's ability to slow down the beat without losing the dance floor - something that should keep this album sounding fresh into the new millenium.
If you like Cassius, check out:
Dubtribe Bryant Street
Etienne D'Crecy presents... Super Discount
Daft Punk Homework
VA/Mixed by DJ John Kelley funkydesertbreaks vols. 1&2
-- jf
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