Motorbass ‎– Pansoul

motorbass was the real thing, to some what kickstarted the French scene. Arguable. However, something to agree is that it was underrated and well under the radar once the limelight was on Daft Punk, St. Germain and co. Motorbass it does hold the passage of time pretty well. It is a masterpiece of dub, house bathed in sensual atmosphere and with smart samples. It contains total dancefloor bombs. It is bass rich and classy. An absolute golden gem of an album. So original and different.

An absolute classic, not only of French house, but of electronic music in general. Long before the filters, long before the disco revival, there was the deep funk of Motorbass. Although PANSOUL was their only album, this release compiles their early EPs onto a second disc, a shrewd and respectful move. Starting with the slow and groovy “Fabulous,” the album quickly moves onto the biting beats and filters of “Ezio,” one of the best house tracks out there. But right up there with “Ezio” is the blues-house of “Neptune,” as moody as they come. The second disc of earlier works is understandably less smooth and refined as PANSOUL but still displays flashes of brilliance, like “Stereogram Gelato” which starts out jazzy, then goes pure techno. While EP1 is very acid-influenced, the TRANSPHUNK EP is closer to PANSOUL in style. Taken as a whole, though, this new edition of PANSOUL is a must for anyone serious about electronic music.

The verse "have you heard the latest news (thing) from Neptune" on track B4 is adopted from Sun Ra's same named track from the 1973 Album "Discipline 27-II".
Both tracks have a similar course and lenght and also ending. I maintain Motorbass made a fine remix of Sun Ra's composition. By the way, another track on the Discipline album is named Pan Afro. Any other hints?
For those who like the easier tunes from the Sun Ra Arkestra I can hardly recommend to give this album a try. There are reissues available both on CD and LP.

'Pansoul' is as crucial to the development and success of french housemusic as 'Strings of Life' is for Detroit techno. The two members Philippe Zdar and Etienne de Crecy
become wellknown and popular later-on individually -Philippe as member of Cassius and La Funk Mob, Etienne under his own name as producer / remixer extraordinaire -
but this still is their finest work.
Way ahead of its time and therefor re-issued in 2003.
So no excuse for every musiclover to own a copy !

Some people(including myself)could foolishly have thought that the French House scene has only been around since Stardust kicked off, but this is incorrect. Upon initial listening in '96, I wasn't too keen on this.But as my years & ears have changed, I hear a different drum now. Motorbass is a part of that.You can hear essences of Pepe Bradock, St Germain & Daft Punk et al in this album, yet really this was BEFORE they all made it.
The fact that they(Motorbass) have been putting out this stuff since 1992, I might have to start digging in da crates for any other French Gems. A nice album,quite different,great heavy basslines(as you would expect from the french) some nice samples & great production make this a winner. Donnez Mois Une, Sil Vous Plait!!

This is another superb album from the early days of French house music. Along with St Germain, Motorbass (who later became Cassuis & Ettienne De crecy) deserve a lot of respect for their part in kicking off the scene which is so alive today.

This album is heavily influenced by old skool hiphop and house music, and it is most noticible in the excelent Ezio.

This record is a must for those of us who apreciate early French house music