Motorbass

Philippe Zdar and <a href="spotify:artist:78YRbJhMi5kXKruiQGCJo7">Etienne De Crecy</a> are the names behind Parisian disco house duo Motorbass, whose romping '70s updates have been instrumental in reviving the Parisian underground dance music scene and bringing to it international attention. Although Motorbass have scarcely more than a few singles and an album to their name, their mature, confident fusion of hip-hop and funk with the party vibe of disco and the driving soul of house made their name almost synonymous with innovative club music.

Formed by Zdar and <a href="spotify:artist:78YRbJhMi5kXKruiQGCJo7">Crecy</a> in 1994, the group's first releases, "Motorbass" and "Transfunk," followed their work behind the boards on noted French artist <a href="spotify:artist:3nU8TSIICYDbUqRpJISTRE">MC Solaar</a>'s first two albums. Zdar grew up in the south of France (his primary musical focus growing up was as the drummer in a speed metal band), and moved to Paris after discovering jazz in his late teens. Immersing himself in music production, Zdar met <a href="spotify:artist:78YRbJhMi5kXKruiQGCJo7">Crecy</a> early on and the pair's gradual exposure to Paris' acid-house underground added Chicago and New York influences such as <a href="spotify:artist:2Di8r9df6xjyj6CVOqbGVz">Marshall Jefferson</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6jU2Tt13MmXYk0ZBv1KmfO">Giorgio Moroder</a> to the mix. Pansoul, the group's 1996 debut, was praised upon its release as an almost instant classic, and played a catalytic role in bringing attention to the Paris underground in 1996 -- attention which later brought <a href="spotify:artist:4tZwfgrHOc3mvqYlEYSvVi">Daft Punk</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1c0wlIJWID8ghPnKsqJDSu">Air</a> to wider recognition. In addition to Motorbass, Philippe Zdar has also been involved in <a href="spotify:artist:4sf3QZW8a3xZ14IGsOAzoy">Cassius</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1H7whstswAxP1t4AHlAYii">La Funk Mob</a>, while <a href="spotify:artist:78YRbJhMi5kXKruiQGCJo7">De Crecy</a> has released many EPs as all well as several full-lengths in the Super Discount series. ~ Sean Cooper, Rovi