Motorbass

Philippe Zdar and Etienne De Crecy are the names behind Parisian disco house duo Motorbass, whose romping '70s updates released on the Cassius and Source labels have been instrumental in reviving the Parisian underground dance music scene and bringing to it international attention. Although, like similar hype targets Daft Punk, Motorbass have scarcely more than a few singles and an album to their name, their mature, confident fusion of hip-hop and funk with the party vibe of disco and the driving soul of house has made their name almost synonymous with innovative club music. Formed by Zdar and Crecy in 1994, the group's first releases, "Motorbass" and "Transfunk," followed their work behind the boards on noted French artist MC Solaar's first two albums. Zdar grew up in the south of France (his primary musical focus growing up was as the drummer in a speed metal band), and moved to Paris after discovering jazz in his late teens. Immersing himself in music production, Zdar met Crecy early on and the pair's gradual exposure to Paris' acid-house underground added Chicago and New York influences such as Marshall Jefferson and Giorgio Moroder to the mix. Pansoul, the group's 1996 debut, was praised upon its release as an almost instant classic, and played a catalytic role in bringing attention to the Paris underground in 1996 — attention which has since brought groups such as Dimitri, Daft Punk, and Air (whose self-titled EP on Source was reissued by trip-hop stronghold Mo'Wax that same year) to wider recognition. In addition to Motorbass, Philippe Zdar is also the main force behind Mo'Wax dance-funk group La Funk Mob, who've released a pair of singles and a mini-album through the label.