Laurent Garnier

• Genre: Techno

About

Laurent Garnier has been around. He debuted at the start of the Acid House movement in 1987 at Manchester's Hacienda, and was the first European DJ to gain a residency. Thought by many to be France’s premier ambassador for house and techno, he was invited onto BBC Radio 1’s 'Peel Sessions' and has played headlining slots at all the major dance festivals. His first album, Shot In The Dark (1994), was well received by the dance community, but it was his second release,30 (1997), that really brought him to the public eye, winning the 'Victoire De La Musique' in 1998, and having a live performance of "Acid Eiffel" being broadcast from the award ceremony on prime time French TV. The 250,000 selling Unreasonable Behaviour (2000) followed, with the hit single 'The Man With The Red Face', leading to a global tour and a series of videos from hot young directors. His sound leans towards the harder more industrial side of house, but there are unexpected jazzy rhythms and deep funky beats that keep his audience guessing. "What I play is shakey shakey, wiggle your bottie", he says. What we hear is throbbing deep sensual beats, minimal techno, sweet strings and driving hardcore hands-in-the-air funk.

- Nicholas Baker