Imprint: ClekClekBoom

In our last Imprint feature we documented the rise of Parisian label Sound Pellegrino but anyone who knows about the music that's exploding out of France right now, knows that the country ishousing a wealth of quality labels. The mechanical, industrial and steely sound of ClekClekBoom is one that's been on our radar for some time now and all it takes is one glance at their roster of highly-promising and talented young artists to see why.

Home to French Fries, Bambounou, Aleqs Notal, NSDOS, Coni and label bosses Ministre X and Boo, the collective first began in 2007 as an outlet for selling music and it wasn't until 2011 that the imprint restructured to release from other artists. This was the turning point explains Jonathan Chaoul, AKA Ministre X

"We had to find all the production facilities, a mastering studio, a distributor and also think about the artwork to have a coherence with the music we wanted to release. We also reunited with French Fries, who was 18 years old at the time, and asked him to take care of the artistic direction." they say.

With Valentino Mora (French Fries, pictured below) on board to steer the artistic side of things, in the three years since it's been active as a fully-functioning record label, it has begun an assault on the underground scene's auditory senses. Although all the artists that release via the label bear their own trademark style, they all create a similar sound and it's one that remains constant throughout. Hefty bass stabs, piercing screeches, robotic bleeps and the metallic churning of builds and drops that roll in and out seamlessly.

This brand of dance music is wholly their own and it's represented in a series of compilation CDs that CCB have released entitled 'Paris Club Music'. The first volume was released last year and featured cuts such as the booty-bass fuelled 'Yo Vogue VIP' by French Fries, the slo-mo, boozy groover 'Slab' by Chaos In The CBD and the washed-out house-focused 'Luz In Pool' by Coni.

The compilation collected together everything that made the label unique, it typified a new and exciting sound that was bursting out of France and if that mixtape was the start then the debut album release of French Fries was the real seal of authenticity. 'Kepler' was the first album to be released via the label back in February this year and the LP that's littered with savage, stabbing kick drums and industrial almost alien-like barbs impressed across the board.

It cemented the reputation of the label as one that has no boundaries, no restrictions and no limits as to where it will go. The next volume of 'Paris Club Music' has just dropped and it's more of the same. A truly eclectic mix of tracks are included and it further fuels our appetite for the unique strain of music that the label is pushing.

Label honchos Boo and Ministre X have compiled a mix that fuses together the sounds that have influenced and tantalised the stable, as Boo states: "We've tried to synthesize all the influences you can find on the ClekClekBoom Label and Paris Club Music. Introducing some Chicago, NYC and French House, plus of course some UK vibes!"

'Paris Club Music' Vol 2 is out now viva ClekClekBoom, you can grab it here, the ClekClekBoom crew also host Room 2 at Fabric on September 12, tickets here

Download exclusive mix (right click & save)

Conrad Schnitzler 'Jupiter' - Bureau B
Aethority 'Untitled 126' - ???
N.Y. House'n Authority 'Dyckman House' - Nu Groove
Flightt 'Let's Get Jazzy' - TMT
I:Cube 'Cubo Rhythm Trax: 123' - Versatile
Chaos In The CBD 'Trial Rider (Ayo Bitch)' - ClekClekBoom
Sleeparchive 'Bleep 01' - Sleeparchive
NSDOS 'Standalone Sunset' - ClekClekBoom
DJ Rush 'Cruising' - Dance Mania
Hardhead 'Only The Strong Survive' - Strictly Rhythm
Chemotex 'Payphone Player' - The Trilogy Tapes
Bambounou 'Idem' - ClekClekBoom
Hakim Murphy 'Chicago Head (Skyway Remix)' - Synapsis
Jean Nipon 'I Owe You So Much' - ClekClekBoom
Virgo " Go Wild Rhythm Trax: B4" - Other Side / TRAX
Kerri Chandler "Rain" - Nervous

[Photo Credits: Jerome Herve]