FC Kahuna

• Genre: Tech-House

About

FC Kahuna began as a club, became a label and ended up as a band. Taking their name from Samuel L. Jackson's tasty fast-food treat in Pulp Fiction, childhood friends Dan Ormondroyd and Jon Nowell founded the Big Kahuna Burger in May 1995. Initially just a Heavenly Social-style night, it rapidly became the place to be, and legend has it that Norman Cook decided to launch his Fatboy Slim persona after a visit. After three years, the constantly shifting venues and general madness began to wear, so the boys decided to close down the Big Kahuna Burger, and launched "Headstart" at London's Turnmills. Seeking a new sound, they used Headstart as a launching pad for their love of classic acid house, quirky electronic cuts and retro-electro stylings. This experimental environment was pivotal to the next stage of their development - "It just totally focused us," said Dan. They were soon being called on to capture this sound in a series of remixes for Morel, Luck Slater and Felix Da Housecat. From there, the Kahuna Cuts label followed, and it was here that FC Kahuna began as recording entity, before releasing their debut album Machine Says Yes on City Rockers in 2003. The sound is resolutely updated acid house, but there is soul in amongst the silicon chips, and even blissed-out downtempo with Haylingâ.

- Nicholas Baker