A recent film documentary with Jean-Baptiste de Laubier revealed the producer’s distaste for a life lived in airports fuelled by vodka red bull. This comes of no suprise as Para One has been on the cusp of international stardom since the rise of mega electro act’s such as Justice and Digitalism. Arguably his 2007 album Epiphanie stands as one of the very first discursions into the distorted mega electro we know and love today, album highlights such as Dun-dun dun (self explanatory) and Midnight Swim getting remixed by the likes of the then relatively unknown Boys Noize and Surkin. However despite being a purveyor of the sound, Para One has remained at the top-of his game in the less then financially satisfying underground. Having been kept in the shadows for so long, Passion feels like the stunning album Para One has always had the potential to create.

Fast forward to 2012 and Para One has released several EP’s through prestigious institutions such as Sound Pellegrino and Boys Noize Records, as well as being one of the founding members of Marble. Very much a producers producer Passion finds the frenchman embracing pop, garage, and the no holds barred techno of label mates Canblaster and Surkin. Taking a step back from the relentless techno he is associated with, Passion has a much warmer and more melodic pallet. It’s an album which harkens back to the golden days of hip-hop and classic electro rather than acid or techno.

Passion’s stand out single is “Every Little Thing” featuring Sound Pellegrino founder Teki Latex as well as a stunning vocal by Breakbot collaborator Irfane. The entire song benefits from a healthy dose of quirk and down-right likability. The hook goes “I didn’t want to come across as a lonely man when I told you that I loved you on our first date” It’s sweet, down to earth, and very listenable.  A continuation of the sound witnessed in Para One and Teki Latex’s remix of Canblaster‘s “Clockworks” the song stands out as a commercially viable and credible single. The garage/uk influenced “Lean On Me” once again features long time collaborator Teki Latex, and while continuing in a similar vein it’s a great pop record. It’s clear that Para One has been keeping an eye on the recent resurgence of garage, and has reinterpreted it in a distinctly French fashion.

Surprisingly the album very rarely features a four to the floor groove and is much more indebted to the offkilter kick drums of classic electro and hip-hop. In fact, the only track to feature a steady thump on the and 1 and 3 is “When the Night” featuring a vocal from Claude Von Stroke associate Jaw. Possibly my favorite track from Passions, it harkens back to the best filter work of Mr Oizo and Boys Noize. While it’s not music which is meant to be pondered in a dark room under a bright light, it doesn’t pretend to be either. It’s powerful, catchy, and mastered to breaking point, an ode to dance music culture and a spontaneity which a well oiled PR machine never could recreate.

The overall mood of the album is joyous and positive, this being completely summed up in mid album track “You” Driven by a spliced vocoder style vocal, the lyrics are largely irrelevant, more important are the distinctly major sounding synths and 90’s style hi-hats which let you know that it’s okay to smile to dance music. “Albatross” is another bright electro jam, brimming of positive energy. What makes the album so special is the fact that in-spite of similar sounding material, every track has it’s own identity.  Para One is clearly no newcommer to the game of dance music and he’s not afraid to quote across the board “Love Ave” for example, immediately conjures up nostalgic memories of 90’s hip hop, a particularly synthetic flute noise rewinding the clock about 15 years. On the contrary “Vibrations” (following Poisoned Apples) is a modern dubstep jam with less distorted bass and more instant funk. It’s clear thata Para One is a healthy sampler and Passion benefits from a varied and eclectic sound.

In a music industry where your influences become your sound, Para One has done an excellent job of revealing his background. Passion finishes with the fabulous “Empire” namely a hip-hop instrumental run through 2012’s genre blender, the melancholy created by this track is undeniable. In Passions, Para One takes you a journey through long forgotten genres and cultures seen through today’s kaleidoscope. The album is barometer for the digital age, where content is more powerful than availability. This truly is an artist album and the picture it paints is a promising one for the future of Para One.

Passions is available from Marble Music here…