We recently caught up with French producer Maelstrom after his latest release on Gessaflestien’s Zone Records. We have had our ears on him for awhile after bouncing around on some of the top dance labels in past releases. The Resistance EP is a deep blend of techno infused bass music. After the release we asked him what other song really get him going. As an name that is shooting up the ranks in dance, Maelstrom already has the support of today’s top producers. Since you can’t play only his tunes in your set, take these recommendations.

01 – Steve Reich – City Life

Steve Reich is one of my favorite composers, I was introduced to his work through a Nonesuch compilation where I found his track ‘Different Train’, and it ended up being the one track I have listened to the most times in my whole life, I can go back to it every week and still find inspiration and beauty. His city life project is about taking the sounds of the city – screeching cars, air brakes and car alarms, all the abrasive qualities to the city – and trying to deal with that. It’s a very interesting way of dealing with samples. They’re not here to mimic an instrument, but for their own personality, their own colour, and that’s what most people don’t understand about samples, they’ve got their own life, their personal agenda, and have to be used this way.

02 – DJ Trace & Optical – Sphere

Most of the darkness in my music comes from my rave background, but it also comes from drum ‘n bass circa 1999/2000. The use of drums, the space, the atmospheres and soundscapes, the constant innovation and forward thinking vision of this scene was something to look forward to, and I still go back to it quite often.

 03 – CSMNT61 and Jensen Interceptor – Angle Of Incidence

I played at a Motorik party in Sydney last year with Jensen Interceptor, CSMNT61 and the crew, and it felt like being home away from home, finding a techno family on the other side of the planet. Their new record is perfect : dark, stripped back, raw and epic, I’ve played it at every show since I received the promo.

…..And I can’t wait to hit Australia again.

04 – Jupiter Jazz – Good Girl

This is Maceo Plex and Danny Daze, two of the most skilled producers of the moment, messing around with electro and Miami bass in the studio. I wouldn’t have expected them to be into that kind of sound, but the result is fantastic and inspired. I love the way the bassline clicks and gets out of control; you can almost feel the synth wanting to improvise, starting to take control over the rest of his fellow instruments.

05 – Fischerspooner – the 15th

When you say ‘fischerspooner’, everybody thinks of their hit song ’emerge’, but I tend to go back to this one instead. It’s a cover from an 80’s punk band, and it’s got this human fragility Vs robot machine feel that makes it stand the test of time. I wish we had more songwriting in dance music, but apart from a couple of covers, few timeless songs have been written in this context. Maybe it’s the next thing for us, writing songs instead of tracks.

 

Check out the Resistance EP out now on Zone Records. Look for big moves from Maelstrom in the studio and behind the decks. As a rising force from the Savoir Faire team you know this is an act to watch.