Hugo Paris's Classic House Playlist

Django Django drummer, Dave Mcclean, puts together this classic house playlist of his favourite cuts from Chicago, New York and beyond

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Better known for his role as drummer and producer for acclaimed, Mercury Music Award-nominated indie four-piece, Django Django, Dave Maclean has long been bubbling up in the electronic underground. Known amongst discerning music lovers for his eclectic DJ sets, Maclean’ has gone back to his rave roots under his Hugo Paris moniker.

Last month he debuted his first single under the moniker, "Music Saves The World". A team up with a true classic house icon, Roland Clark, this killer collaboration is a homage to the 90’s New York House sound.

Today acclaimed producer, Dance System, drops his remix of "Music Saves The World", in celebration we asked Dave Mcclean to put together this classic house playlist of his favourite cuts from Chicago, New York and beyond.

N.Y. House'n Authority - "Apt 3A"

I used to hear this on Rhumba Club mix tapes back in the 90's and for years and years I didn't know what it was. I remember being really chuffed getting it on 12". Just an absolute classic from Rheji Burrell on the iconic Nu Groove label.

Face the Bass - "Dance to the House"

One of my favourite and most listened to mixtapes was Billy Nasty's Journey's by DJ... it was rinsed at the back of the Django Django tour bus when there was a night off! This track from it was really the kind of thing I loved when I first got into house music, just really fun and it's mixed and mastered so well that it sounds huge on 12".

Fierce Ruling Diva - "You'd Better Take This"

This is another track that just brings back great memories. I had the Reactivate 7 mixtape and this was a track on it I loved. Again, just an old house track that's really fun but it's also quite a nutty production listening back to it!

Felix da House Cat - "In the Dark We Live"

I absolutely loved Bush records and I remember getting this in Fopp in Edinburgh when it had an amazing vinyl selection downstairs. It's perfect because it's the kind of house record you'd want to hear in a pitch-black basement somewhere at 3 am. It's so slow and heavy and minimal. Junior Vasquez was playing it in NYC at the Sound Factory and I'd read DJ Mag and Mixmag and dream of going clubbing in NYC or Chicago when I got records like this.

Armand Van Helden - "Witch Doktor"

I'm pretty sure that this samples drums from another Fiercely Ruling Diva track. Justin Roberston was one of my favourite DJ's growing up and he started one of his Cream mix tapes with this. I was more into techno around the time and I heard this and it really solidified my love of house. I bought the 12" in 23rd precinct when it had a shop on the Perth RD in Dundee and every track on the EP just blew my mind. This track though really has not left my record box since it came out and I've been through about 15 copies over the years! One of the most perfect house tracks ever made.

Paul Johnson - "Hear the Music"

It's hard to listen to this without hearing Pete Tong introducing Daft Punk's Essential mix over the top! One of PJ's best tracks and on the mighty Peace Frog records. Still sounds fresh. I drew a picture of Paul Johnson DJing for an art project at school, I was so into his tracks!

Marrs - "Pump up the Volume"

When this came out I loved it because it was really Hip Hop sounding, it had a bit of Public Enemy, Mantronix and Cold Cut in there and I'd hear it on skate videos alongside Bomb the Bass etc. I absolutely love it to this day with its cool old footage mash-up video. I think CJ Mackintosh maybe produced it. It's got a heavy UK sound of that time with its collaged vocal samples and was a big crossover record without being naff. Also, another really well mastered and cut 12" for DJ’s.

I:Cube - "Disco Cubism" (Daft Punk Mix)

Filter House was huge at this time and the French were going head to head with the Americans with Daft Punk and co. taking on DJ Sneak's famous sound and giving it that certain je ne sais quoi. You could not have a night out without hearing this classic!

Motorbass - "Ezio" (Cassius Remix)

Staying with France… Not much I can say about this other than I just got major spine tingles listening to it. I had the white label and played it all the time. Absolute genius remix. Huge love and respect.

Dave Clarke - "Southside" (DJ Sneak Remix)

I had a great night in Amsterdam recently with Dave in his favourite whisky bar talking nonsense and sampling some fine malts. This track is ageing like a fine malt! He might be the baron of Techno but this is pure Chicago... An absolute dancefloor monster with a brilliant DJ Sneak mix on the flip.

Posted by Matthew Francey on 30 Sep 2020

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Matthew Francey

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