Maelstrom - Australia Mix 2009 - Input Selector

Maelstrom – Australia Mix 2009

Joan-Maël Péneau a.k.a Maelstrom découvre l’électro au début des années 90, à l’apogée de la french touch et sous l’influence des productions du label Mo’Wax. En 2005, Maelstrom commence une nouvelle vie sur une scène presque inconnue en France : le nuskoolbreaks (ou nu-breaks).
Cette musique synthétise ses influences tout en lui laissant assez de liberté pour y exprimer son propre style : des samples funky tirés des archives de la black music, des lignes de basses à faire frétiller les membranes, des sonorités électro, tout cela sur une structure inspirée par la drum’n bass… Rapidement, ses collaborations avec Napz, tirant plutot vers le funky-breaks, sortent sur Jalapeno records tandis que Labrok signe ses productions solos, playlistées et jouées par les Djs les plus en vue de la scène britannique (Plump Djs, Aquasky etc..). Il fait aujourd’hui pleinement partie de la scène break française, au côté de Flore, ou de Missil, et joue régulièrement un peu partout en france, en europe (Allemagne, Roumanie, Autriche, Angleterre, Suisse), jusqu’en Chine, à Pékin… Ses dernières productions ont été produites sur des labels indépendants de référence, Menu Music, et West records et ont déjà retourné les dancefloors autour du globe sur les platines de Krafty Kuts, Cut La Rok, ou Rennie Pilgrem, lui valant une sélection aux prestigieux « Breakspoll Awards » Londonniens en 2008, et le présence du morceau « Disto Funk » sur la compilation « Fabric Live #34 » mixée par Krafty Kuts.

Joan Mael Peneau is not a name many would recognise immediately but his two aliases (Malestrom and Mr. Strom) have both grounded strong reputations in their respective scenes for pushing the boundaries of their genres. As an electro and broken beat artist, Maelstrom, busted onto the scene in 2007, establishing his party sounds in amidst a competitive French market flooded by Nu Skool, Tear-Out and Hard Style artists. Incredibly, he was able to redefine the Funky and Party Broken Beats genre, with a unique sound that harmonizes with the ever-popular Electro genre pioneered and governed by his countrymen, Daft Punk, Justice and the many Ed Banger artists. The ensuing sounds have been heralded to have “bridge the void between French Electro and Party Breaks”; And Electro and Breakbeat artists, fans and enthusiasts around the world have taken note, supporting him to a nomination at the 2008 International Breakspoll Awards for “Best Breakthrough Producer”. As a funk artist, Mr. Strom, has held his own in a very tight knit scene, with a steady flow of well received original and bootleg releases on a plethora of French and UK labels, including Jalepeno Records, Rotax Disques, Labrok, East Records and Innvision including the much famed bootleg, “Hollyboot Swinging”. Joan Mael Peneau began his career playing and producing Electro in the mid 90’s, drawing influence from the works of Mo’Wax Recordings. It was in the period proceeding this, from 1998 through to 2005, that he struck somewhat of a mid-career identity crisis, dabbling in a variety of genres and releasing more than 20 EPs in various styles including Techno, Drum n Bass, Hardcore and Down Tempo Funk under several aliases. In 2005, Joan realised his calling and finding new direction in a genre that was virtually unknown in his home country, France, at the time – Nu Skool Breaks. The open format of Breakbeat allowed him to synthesize all of the styles and sounds of which he has previously produced, played and loved throughout his career. This combined with the fact that he had found himself at the forefront of a new scene in France allowed his new alias, Maelstrom, the liberty to be creative and adventurous with his work and inspired him to create what is now unique recognised as the Maelstrom sound: “Funky rhythms sampled from Soul and R&B music archives, layered with loud, phat basslines, a tough electro styled groove with a straight-up Breakbeat swagger.”