Super Discount 3 represents the third movement in Étienne de Crécy disco triptych that’s spanned three decades. The Parisian is best described as a DJs’ DJ or what a tastemaker orders off the menu; when it comes to electronic music this guy ‘gets it.’
The critically lauded de Crécy debut Super Discount was released in 1996 and, now, almost 20 years on since the first installment comes Super Discount 3 and it similarly reflects the contemporary dance scene.
Opening song Night (Cut The Crap) is crisp, yet makes your belly rumble. Respite comes in a ‘80s-style synth breakdown – an era and style a lot of French electro artists seem to adore, like Kavinsky and Pyramid.
Two of the song titles, WTF and Hashtag My Ass, indicate de Crécy likes the idioms of online communication. The former track of the pair is a rap dance track, a style that was being pushed big by Armand Van Helden (Bonkers) and MSTRKFT (Bounce) back in 2009, and this dated juxtaposition of styles makes the track feel a little forced for 2015.
The songs on the album that appear to pay homage to the synth-dominated disco of the early ‘80s are the highlights. The song You is a sensual, driving and immensely satisfying experience and the kind of song you dream about hearing at a club at 6am – look out for the flute.
Longtime Étienne de Crécy collaborator Alex Gopher contributes to Smile – a warm, yet glitchy track that balances texture with cheese to create a high quality dance track.
Ultimately, this a great French house/electro record from an artist that doesn’t need to prove himself to anyone anymore.
BY DENVER MAXX
