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Yuksek

Profile:YUKSEK - AWAY FROM THE SEA

Two or three times a week, on his Myspace page, Yuksek gets an e-mail from Istanbul or Ankara saying “Hey, know what? Yuksek means “high” in Turkish!” The answer to which is no! Pierre-Alexandre Busson wasn’t aware of this when he chose the name by instinct four years ago, partly for its sound and partly to buck the trend of English-sounding names that are ubiquitous in electronic music. In recent months, the pseudonym has been collecting an ever-growing halo of buzz.
Yuksek, originally with Birdy Nam Nam’s label, has recently crafted some of the dirtiest, most inspired remixes of hits by Mika, The Kaiser Chiefs, and Ghostface Killah (Wu Tang Clan). On stage Yuksek’s svelte, supple physique swoops between his vintage keyboards and FX board and this has set alight concert venues, clubs and festivals throughout the world. Now, the suave musician - anything but a clubber, strangely enough - is poised to let loose his first album, packed full of future hits called “Tonight”, “Extraball” and “I Like To Play”.

Yuksek was born in 1977 and spent his adolescence practising piano several hours a day at music school before realising that “the only job I could get was as a music teacher.” He was convinced that there had to be some other path to take. A fan of pop music, raised on The Beatles and Gainsbourg, amazed by the early West Coast rap of NWA and De La Soul and – above all – stunned in his early secondary school years by Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (the beginning of a chain of events that would eventually lead him to Lou Reed’s “Transformer”, which he calls “the un-equalled summit of modern music”), he grew up to be an intrepid lad who decided, age 17, to stop the studying and start the adventure.

Little by little his reputation grew as one of Reims’ key pop figures and over a period of years he developed into the artist we know now aided by the fact that by the end of the 20th Century Yuksek had inevitably discovered electronic music. “Compared to pop, it had a freedom about it,” he remembers. As an admirer of the Warp label, he found it “great that Aphex Twin could release Window Licker and then, the following week, some weird experimental track that would be almost unlistenable.”
So are Yuksek’s tastes simply all over the place? The answer to which is not at all. The striking thing about “Away From The Sea” is the coherence that is apparent throughout. With disarming ease, he mixes pop hooks with dancefloor devastation, post-punk riffs and acid loops, disco grooves, experimental arabesque flourishes, house beats and catchy melodies. Within a track you’ll hear hints of both the Pixies and Scissor Sisters, or Squarepusher and Giorgio Moroder, or Mirwaïs and Daft Punk. Guests on the album include rapper Amanda Blank (Spank Rock), electrofunk duo Chromeo, psychedelic-folk group The Bewitched Hands and the dance-rock of Shit Disco. All of which highlight that Yuksek is the latest version of a generation un-phased, thanks to the ‘shuffle’ button on their iPods, easily switching from – say – tough garage rock to a melancholic torch song, from a Chopin waltz to a hip-hop beat. A resolutely post-schizophrenic musician, you could say, whose outwardly electronic album hides a pop heart. Songs like “So far Away from the Sea”, “Freak’O’Rocker” and “This Certain Life” are proof of such sentiments.

So what’s the secret of the equilibrium found in his finely crafted tracks? Well, first of all it’s his naturally spontaneous temperament: “I compose really instinctively,” he says. “I never think about what I’m going to do before going into the studio. I work fast and just let my mood guide me.” Hidden away in his own studio (as the apt album title suggests), situated in the basement of a basement, deprived of Internet and mobile phone contact, Yuksek lets his tracks develop into mini-epics, using his talent for twisted FX, sensorial rollercoaster rides and electrifying changes of tack. “I like it when there’s always something going on in a track,” he confides, before tentatively adding “perhaps because I’m afraid of emptiness?”

And that’s how Yuksek became the standard-bearer of a post Soulwax/Justice disco-rock club culture.
Now signed to Sound of Barclay in Paris, the more pop-orientated Fiction label (home to The White Lies, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kate Nash) has release the album in the UK, as Cherry Three/ Interscope will in the US.
In 2009, Yuksek will begin his latest ascension (reaching “high” as his new Turkish friends would say). However it’s only a matter of time before he hits the top.

So what’s the secret of the equilibrium found in his finely crafted tracks? Well, first of all it’s his naturally spontaneous temperament: “I compose really instinctively,” he says. “I never think about what I’m going to do before going into the studio. I work fast and just let my mood guide me.” Hidden away in his own studio (as the apt album title suggests), situated in the basement of a basement, deprived of Internet and mobile phone contact, Yuksek lets his tracks develop into mini-epics, using his talent for twisted FX, sensorial rollercoaster rides and electrifying changes of tack. “I like it when there’s always something going on in a track,” he confides, before tentatively adding “perhaps because I’m afraid of emptiness?”

And that’s how Yuksek became the standard-bearer of a post Soulwax/Justice disco-rock club culture.
Now signed to Sound of Barclay in Paris, the more pop-orientated Fiction label (home to The White Lies, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kate Nash) has release the album in the UK, as Cherry Three/ Interscope will in the US.
In 2009, Yuksek will begin his latest ascension (reaching “high” as his new Turkish friends would say). However it’s only a matter of time before he hits the top.
URLs:http://www.myspace.com/yuksek
Name Variations: All | Yuksek | P.A "Yuksek" Busson | P.A. "Yuksek" Busson | P.A."Yuksek"Busson | Pierre-Alexandre Yuksek Busson
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Releases:
Fool Da Groove (12")   Hypnotic Music 2003
Hello Sukuki (12")   Hypnotek 2004
Should Be Slave (12")   Hypnotic Music 2004
The Wax EP (12")   Rise Recordings 2005
Amerik / Everywhere In Town (12")   I'm A Cliché 2006
Sorry (12")   Relish Records 2006
Composer EP (12")   Relish Records 2007
It Comes EP (EP, Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   UWe 2007
Tonight (EP) ◄ (4 versions)   UWe ... 2008
Away From The Sea (CD, Album, Enh, Dig)   Barclay 2009
Away From The Sea (File, AAC)   Has Been 2009
Extraball (CD, Single, Promo, Car)   Sound Of Barclay 2009
Friendship Salad EP (EP) ◄ (2 versions)   Hypnotic Music  
Remixes:
Paris Lounge 4 (2xCD) Happy Feet (Yuksek Remix) Wagram 2003
Avril 2004 - Made In France (1) (CD) Can You Trust Me ? (Yu... Les Inrockuptibles 2004
Can You Trust Me? (12") Can You Trust Me? (Yuk... Koffe Beatz 2004
Can't Fall Asleep (Remixes) (12") Can't Fall Asleep (Yuk... Platinum 2004
Eskimo Recordings Presents: Headman - Dance Modern ◄ (2 versions) Can U Trust Me EP (Yuk... Eskimo Recordings 2004
On My Radio (2xCD) Can't Fall Asleep (Yuk... Discograph 2004
CV 209 (12") CV 209 (Yuksek Remix) Rise Recordings 2005
ElektroTekknoKlash Vol. II - Break Da 80's (CD, Promo, Ltd) Can You Trust Me (Yuks... ElektroTekknoKlash Records 2005
All This Time / Priceless Things EP (12") All This Time (Yuksek ... Rise Recordings 2006
Maximum Joy (CD, Maxi, Promo) Maximum Joy (Yuksek Re... Relish Recordings 2006
An Allegory Of Chastity (CD, Maxi) Feel You In My Arm (Yu... Disque Primeur 2007
BEAT No. 42 (CD, Enh) Dance Division BEATmagazine 2007
Bang Bang (12", EP) Bang Bang (Yuksek Remix) Naive New Beaters 2007
Cocotte 2.0 (2xCD) Hands Of A Stranger Citizen Records 2007
Dance Division EP (12", EP) Dance Division (Yuksek... Mental Groove Records 2007
Danger Seekers (12", Pic) Danger Seekers (Rolf H... Plant Music Inc. 2007
Fool For Love (Single) ◄ (3 versions) Fool For Love (Yuksek ... Prestel ... 2007
French Touch Anthology (4xCD) Danse Division (Yuksek... Wagram 2007
Kitsuné Udon (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) All This Time (Yuksek ... Avex Trax 2007
Maximum Joy (12") Maximum Joy (Yuksek Re... Relish Recordings 2007
OK (Single) ◄ (2 versions) OK (Yuksek Remix) Fierce Panda 2007
Only For DJ's Vol. 3 (4xCD, Comp) Hands Of A Stranger (Y... Wagram 2007
Peace & Greed Remixes (12") Peace & Greed (Yuksek ... UKW 2007
Radio Disco (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Spam (Yuksek Mix) Ministry Of Sound (Germany) 2007
Trans Boulogne Express ◄ (2 versions) Trans Boulogne Express... UWe 2007
10,000 Nights (Remixes) (CDr, Promo) 10,000 Nights (Brodins... Charisma 2008
Album Sampler (CDr, EP, Promo) Graveyard Girl (Yuksek... Mute Records Ltd. 2008
All Around (7") All Around (Yuksek RMX) Barclay 2008
Allthegirls (File, MP3 + File, FLAC) Allthegirls (Yuksek Re... Exploited 2008
Electro Me /// (CD, Album) Keep That Control (Yuk... Kuchibiru Records, CCRE 2008
Ever Better (CD, Comp) Graveyard Girl (Yuksek... EMI Music (France) 2008
Eye Eye Nose Mouth (Culture Club Volume 6) (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Fool For Love (Yuksek ... 541 2008
Fancy Footwork: Deluxe Edition (Album, Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Bonafied Lovin (Yuksek... Vice Records ... 2008
Hold Me Down (12") Hold Me Down (Yuksek R... Phantasy Sound 2008
Hold Me Down (CD, Single, Promo) Hold Me Down (Yuksek R... Phantasy Sound 2008
I ♥ Techno 2008 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Papillon (Yuksek & Bro... Music Man Records 2008
I'm A Rope (CDr, Promo) I'm A Rope (Yuksek Remix) Electric Eyeball 2008
KypTape 2008 (File, MP3) Wow Not On Label (Kypski Self-released) 2008
Papillon ◄ (2 versions) Papillon (Yuksek & Bro... Lektroluv 2008
Promo Only // Alternative Club - August 08 (CD, Comp, Promo) Graveyard Girl (Yuksek... Promo Only 2008
Strangers (CD, Single) Strangers (Yuksek Remix) Modular Recordings 2008
Acid Bagg (12") Acidrod (Brodinski "Ac... Fool's Gold Records 2009
Autopsie Vol. 3 ◄ (2 versions) Salade, Tomates, Oigno... Tallac Records ... 2009
Dopium (CD, Album) Dopium (Remix) Babygrande 2009
Graveyard Girl (CD, Single, Promo) Graveyard Girl (Yuksek... Mute Records Ltd., EMI Music (France), Virgin 2009
Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7 (2x12", Comp) Always More (Yuksek Re... Kitsuné Music 2009
Kitsuné Remixes Album # 1 (19xFile, AAC) F**k Friend (Brodinski... Kitsuné Music 2009
Lisztomania (12", Maxi) Lisztomania (Yuksek Rmx) V2 Records, Inc. 2009
Rue De L'Arsenal (Yuksek Remix) (12", S/Sided)   I'm A Cliché 2009
Stade De Reims 1978 (12", Whi) Keep That Control Feat... Green United Music 2009
To Lose My Life (7", Single, 2/2) Farewell To The Fairgr... Fiction Records 2009
To Lose My Life... (CD, Album, Enh) Farewell To The Fairgr... Universal International 2009
Production:
Fuck Friend (12", Single) Fuck Friend (Yuksek & ... Kitsuné Music 2007
Tsugi Sampler 004 (CD, Smplr, Car) Fuck Friend (Yuksek & ... Tsugi Sampler 2008
Worried (EP) ◄ (2 versions)   Has Been 2008
Highly Explicit (12", Pic, S/Sided, Ltd)   Boysnoize Records 2009
Manual For Successful Rioting (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Has Been 2009
Appears On:
Redlight - Live Act Vol. 2 (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Should Be Slave Redlight 2005
Allthegirls (12", Tra) Allthegirls (Yuksek Rmx) Exploited 2007
Bad Runner (12")   Mental Groove Records 2007
Bonafied Lovin (Single) ◄ (2 versions) Bonafied Lovin (Yuksek... Back Yard Recordings 2007
Cocotte ◄ (2 versions) Hands Of A Stranger (Y... Citizen Records 2007
Festival Electroni[k] Septième Édition (CD) Bad Runner Not On Label 2007
Relish Compilation (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) Sorry Relish Recordings 2007
Whow (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) Hands Of A Stranger (Y... Unique 2007
Zooclub - Sundayz Vol. III (CD) Sorry Diamond Production 2007
Graveyard Girl (CD, Single, Promo, Car) Graveyard Girl (Yuksek... Virgin Music (France) 2008
I ♥ Techno (CD, Promo, Comp) Bad Runner 541, N.E.W.S. 2008
Oblivion EP (12", EP)   Turbo 2008
Pocket Piano (12", Pic) Pocket Piano (Brodinsk... Ed Banger Records, Because Music 2008
Sólid Sounds 2008.1 (3xCD, Comp) Bad Runner La Musique Fait La Force 2008
De Maxx Sampler (12", Smplr) So Down La Musique Fait La Force 2009
Objectif 2009 - Vol. 2 (CD, Comp) Extraball (Feat. Amand... Les Inrockuptibles 2009
Tracks Appear On:
Fafa Monteco Presents Hypnotic Tek House Mix Vol. 1 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Intro, Minimanimal Hypnotic Music 2002
Hypnotic Collection Vol.1 (4x12") Minimanimal Hypnotic Music 2002
Mega Dancefloor #2 (4xCD, Comp) Cock Rock Wagram 2004
Redlight - Live Act Vol. 2 (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Should Be Slave Redlight 2005
House Invaderz EP 4/5 (12", EP) Kyno Bye Bye HY:BR 2006
The 2007 Annual (2xCD) Sorry Ministry Of Sound (Australia) 2006
Exploited Presents: Shir Khan - Maximize! (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Composer Exploited 2007
Let's Get Oz! (CD, Mixed, Comp) Kontraul Ed Banger Records 2007
Light Sound Dance (2xCD) Composer Modular Recordings 2007
Relish Compilation (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) Sorry, Composer, Littl... Relish Recordings 2007
Zooclub - Sundayz Vol. III (CD) Sorry Diamond Production 2007
D Is For Disco, E Is For Dancing (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Contact Modular Recordings 2008
French Talent 08 (CD, Promo, Comp) It Comes Music Week 2008
I'm A Cliché / The Tokyo Tapes (CD, Comp) Everywhere In Town Octave Lab 2008
Une Rentrée 2008 - Vol. 2 (CD, Comp) Tonight Les Inrockuptibles 2008
DJ Selection 233: Elektro Beat Shock 24 (CD, Comp) Tonight Do It Yourself Entertainment Strategic Marketing 2009
De Maxx Long Player 15 - Oldskool Edition (2xCD, Comp) So Down 541 2009
De Maxx Sampler (12", Smplr) So Down La Musique Fait La Force 2009
For DJs Only - Club Selection 2009/02 (2xCD, Comp) Tonight Universal Music (Italy) 2009
Objectif 2009 - Vol. 2 (CD, Comp) Extraball (Feat. Amand... Les Inrockuptibles 2009
Switch 13 (2xCD, Comp) Tonight La Musique Fait La Force 2009
Trax Sampler 121 (CD, Smplr, Enh, Promo, Car) I Could Never Be A Dancer Trax Sampler 2009
Tsugi Sampler 015 (CD, Smplr, Car) Tonight ( The Krays Re... Tsugi Sampler 2009
Unofficial Releases:
Drop The DJ Mix (2xCD) Should Be Slave Not On Label 2005
Cassette Cd (CDr, Mixed, Promo, Ltd) Plastik Not On Label 2009
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