Le Knight Club - Crydamoure Presents Waves

It’s about that time of year where all Sydney-siders complain of seasonal depression and how this winter has “gotta be one of the coldest ones ever,” myself included. As I write, the grey sky’s moodiness absorbs itself into my room. Occasionally when there’s not a sun to be found you search for it elsewhere, and this beautiful mix from the short-lived French house label was the key. At the turn of the century, Guy-Man as one half of Daft Punk and underrated legend Eric Chedeville decided to drop a flowing, sun-drenched mix of their finest songs both from themselves and labelmates, washing in and out like the gentle waves you hear calmly crashing between tracks. Thick basslines and thumping drums underpin quick loops of guitar licks and soaring strings, matched with bleepy synths that still give it that robotic feel like all of Daft Punk’s best tracks. The mix’s tone changes with masterful precision, from absolute knockers to bittersweet moments where you can see that sun setting on the shore, like the back half’s Boogie Shell whose repeating AB chord progression will lull you into a trance you don’t want to leave. I think what I love most about this is knowing what these enigmatic people were doing on the side as one of the biggest electronic acts of their time; Thomas with his excellent Roule label and scoring of strange movies from Gaspar Noé, and Guy-Man diving deeper into those same funky house influences that made their work as Daft Punk so great. To think he was probably making Discovery when this dropped is astounding to me. I got on this way too late, but it’s absolutely essential listening for anyone with the littlest interest in French house - it might just make all those clouds fall away in an instant.