30/01/2024
Wednesday 6/3/1998 • Respect to Versatile feat. Pepe Braddock, Gilb’R, I:Cube live and special guest DJ Sneak.
Respect is certainly taking a victory lap this spring of 1998. Following in the footsteps of the Daft Club, Yellow Club, and Cassius Club, our focus shifts to celebrating the Versatile label, another leading presence of this French Touch 1.0. Created by Gilb’R, a pivotal DJ at Radio Nova since the early 90s, Versatile released two major hits of the movement: ‘Disco Cubizm’ by I:Cube, remixed by Daft Punk, and ‘Venus’ by Cheek, courtesy of Gregory. But don’t be fooled by these appearances of being a hit maker. True to the personality of its founder Gilb’R, Versatile develops a universe that is both charismatic and whimsical, enlightened and eccentric.
In this context, celebrating the release of the first album by Pepe Braddock (who had been one half of another French Touch founding duo, Trankilou) is particularly revealing; it showcases an artist who is beyond classification — both brilliant and unyielding, someone who disregards all rules and expectations. In their own ways, Versatile and Pepe Bradock were giving depth and complexity to the scene, some kind of disco-situationism, blending playful energy and avant-garde spirit.
On a side note, the special guests of the night were a live performance by I:Cube and a DJ set by DJ Sneak, the Chicago House star. WOW.