Nôze

A free-wheeling, fun-loving, genre-bending electronica outfit whose records are just as likely to recall improvisatory 1920s Parisian jazz blow-outs as 21st century electro-house or (so-called) "minimal" techno, Nôze comprises the duo of stepbrothers Nicolas Sfintescu and Ezechiel Pailhès. Pailhès is a classically trained pianist who studied at the Academy of Music in Paris, while Sfintescu, who also performs under the name DJ Freak, is a founding member of Circus Company, a techno label that's home to like-minded artists Ark (a frequent Nôze collaborator), Mossa, and Dave Aju, among others. Following several 12"s, Nôze's full-length CD debut for Circus, Craft Sounds and Voices — an eclectic blend of free jazz and vocal-heavy techno featuring guest musicians from Paris' improv, jazz, and experimental music scenes — appeared in 2005. In live performance — the duo's favorite medium — their combination of electronic and live instrumental elements carries over into sweaty, rambunctious shows that have won over audiences worldwide, most notably in a career-making set at 2005's Sonar festival in Barcelona. A flurry of 12" activity continued into the next year, both on Circus and other labels (most notably the quirky, semi-narrative "Kitchen," which appeared on Trapez in 2005), with 2006's How to Dance CD compiling most of their vinyl releases to date and highlighting their infectiously goofy vocal and instrumental approach along with a more propulsive, dancefloor-oriented flavor than their debut. In 2007 their tracks were selected by both Hot Chip and Booka Shade for inclusion in their respective volumes in the DJ-Kicks series. ~ K. Ross Hoffman, Rovi