French DJ Laurent Garnier comes back to Seoul

Features

Published: 04 Aug. 2005, 21:12

French DJ Laurent Garnier comes back to Seoul

Laurent Garnier’s fans in Korea can rejoice even if they couldn’t make it to the Fuji Rock Festival last weekend or are not planning a trip to Tokyo’s Yellow Club this weekend.
One of the best-known French DJs, Mr. Garnier is long overdue for a visit to Seoul. The last time he was here four years ago, he spun at Club M2. Tonight, at the newly opened Club Garden in southern Seoul, Mr. Garnier returns for one night with an artfully strong mix of techno, house and break beat.
His debut as one of the first non-British DJs to perform in the legendary Hacienda club in Manchester in 1987, at the height of acid house music, only heralded the beginning of the French influence in the developing scene of global electronic music.
After returning to France in the early ’90s, he started his own label, F Communications, with a friend, and over the past 10 years, he has explored diverse genres of music and has been frequently voted as the best international DJ by the music press.
He released his first LP, “Shot in the Dark,” in 1994 and subsequently became one of the first French artists to perform on the prestigious Peel Sessions broadcast on BBC Radio 1.
The globe-trotting DJ continued to hold sold-out concerts around major cities. His second album, “30,” won him the Victoire de la Musique award in 1998, the year when a dance music category was added. The third album, “Unreasonable Behavior,” in 2000, featuring the hit single “The Man with the Red Face,” sold more than 250,000 copies. Following a mix album, “Express Luggage,” in 2004, Mr. Garnier released his fifth, “The Cloud Making Machine” earlier this year.

by Ines Cho

Club Garden is behind the Te Home store in Apgujeong-dong. An advance ticket costs 25,000 won ($25) at www.interpark.com, Music Library in Apgujeong-dong (02-515-8417) or Purple Record near Hongik University (02-336-0323); at the door it costs 30,000 won. For more information, visit the club’s site, www.clubgarden.co.kr.