We couldn't let 2023 pass without discussing one of the best techno albums of the year, '33 Tours Et Puis S'en Vont,' by the French legend Laurent Garnier. For his first solo album since 2015, it must be said that the maestro has delivered a powerful, very powerful album, a return to his roots worthy of his farewell to the scene to which he has contributed so much.
"Becoming a dusty old jukebox was never an option."
Born out of a temporary aversion to the techno music that has marked his entire life, following a period of self-reflection during the COVID era, even questioning its relevance in an electronic world where age is a factor, '33 Tours Et Puis S'en Vont' represents the result of two years of work where the master has returned to the essentials: pouring out his emotions and uniting them in a powerful opus that adds to the legend of the monument that is Laurent Garnier.
The incredible 'Tales From The Real World,' a track accompanied by haunting retro rhythms where Alan Watts and his calm voice invite us to meditate on sound and its variations, constitutes one of the most epic intros I've heard in recent years.
With 17 tracks and a total of 3 hours of listening, the album stands as a manifesto for techno, taking us through house ('Le Swing du Pouletto,' 'Multiple Tributes'), electroclash ('In Your Phase'), techno ('Tales from The Real World,' 'Liebe Grüße Aus Cucuron'), electronica ('Et puis s'en va!'), drum and bass ('Sado Miso'), and melodic techno ('Sake Stars Fever,' 'Au Clair de ta Lune'). Each track contributes to the techno structure, reflecting the master's artistic vision and his marathon sets in which he delighted in taking his audience on a journey through genres, disregarding the codes and musical styles typically assigned to artists who usually have to stick to a single style to retain their audience.
'Let The People Faire La Fête,' a true anthem to the joy of living and celebration reminiscent of the Flashback era. With its simple and effective melody, hypnotic bassline, and positive energy, it makes you want to hit the dancefloor and dance with your friends, a smile on your face.
'33 Tours Et Puis S'en Vont' is a true masterclass, an ode to techno, representing the quintessence of an artist who had nothing left to prove and surprised everyone with one of the best techno albums in recent years. This is a record that every electronic music enthusiast must own, just like his legendary autobiography, 'Electrochoc.' Anthological!
Et puis s'en va !