Cork-based duo Metisse have proved that, with a modicum of hype and the right connections, it s possible to break into the dance music scene. Although currently unavailable in its original format, Metisse s Sousounde is undoubtedly destined to become one of the biggest tunes of 99. Sousounde has already received rave reviews in the UK press, especially the tearin mixes by darling of the nu-breaks sound, Freq Nasty. Other treatments, from high profile producers DJ Cam and 4 Hero would seem to point to a well devised plan, but, as Metisse s Skully explains, Sousounde s success has been a happy accident.
I met Aida (vocalist) who s originally from the Ivory Coast, in France. I ve always been involved in music, and we started sending demos to record companies. We were lucky enough to get a publishing deal with Sony, who booked us into The Town House (one of the biggest recording studios in London) to record our debut LP. Because we were a nobody band, we generated a lot of hype, and pretty soon everybody wanted to collaborate with us.
While Skully was a former member of indie band Chapterhouse, he claims that Metisse, who work predominantly with samplers, take their cues from dance music, especially groups like Leftfield and Massive Attack, and work them into a leftfield sound . This he claims, is evident on their own, as yet unreleased version of Sousounde and forthcoming debut album.
Our own version will be more mainstream, he confirms, but I still think the Freq Nasty and Blim mixes are awesome. I love the nu-breaks sound, and I think that what they re doing is the future of music. I mean, I have the same equipment as these guys, but what they re doing with their samplers is unbelievable, there are things in that mix that no-one has even attempted before!
Hearing the PA-shredding, angelic vocal-splicing Freq Nasty version getting hammered to hell at some of the world s most forward-thinking clubs must be a thrill for an act that were all but unknown before Christmas.
Do they now aspire to the dizzying heights of pop star recognition?
We ve got all the ingredients right with Metisse the name describes the mixture of black and white, literally translated it means half-caste, to signify the mix of our two different cultures. I m sure everybody would like to work with Aida s voice, but we re not really that interested in the pop star side of things.
However, when asked to choose one dream collaborator, both band members are united in their decision: Fatboy Slim. He doesn t take what he does too seriously, but you can tell he s put a lot of thought and detail into his music. If you re reading this Mr. Cook . . . n
Sousounde Mixes by DJ Cam and Freq Nasty vs. Blim are out now on Dioulac. The 4 Hero remix follows on March 1st. Metisse release their debut album later this year.