Metronome #064: Fred Falke

Insomniac’s Metronome series features mixes from some of today’s fastest-rising electronic stars, as well as championed legends. It takes listeners deep across a wide range of genres, movements, cultures, producers, artists and sounds that make up the diverse world of electronic music.

Just as the blissful synths, groovy basslines, and smooth, disco-inspired guitar licks of “Radio Days” take off, a familiarly soothing radio voice chimes in. “Waiting to hear this song has been a long time coming,” says legendary Los Angeles radio DJ “Shotgun” Tom Kelly. “Remember when the music was making you feel sooooo good, with that sweet sound… It’s been gone way too long. Maybe it’s time you go back to that sweet sound.”

He’s right. That “sweet sound” has indeed been missing—but not for long. “Radio Days” marks the return of French touch innovator Fred Falke, and as the opening track off his latest Alpha EP, it welcomes back the funky soul often lacking in today’s dancefloors.

With Alpha, Falke presents his first taste of original music in almost five years. What’s notable across the four-track EP is Falke’s—now living in Los Angeles—sun-drenched sound, which is evidently clear on “Radio Days” and dancefloor burner “All of My Love.”

There’s no ignoring the level of crisp production value across Alpha. With Falke handling bass, keyboard, and programming duties—alongside guitarist Brent Paschke, who has worked with pop’s elite, including Pharrell Williams and Katy Perry—Alpha is an updated, sun-kissed facelift on the French touch sound, a musical movement Falke helped define via “Intro,” his 2000 collaboration with Alan Braxe. Following a fruitful career spanning more than 15 years and including endless EPs and remixes for the likes of Robyn, Lana Del Rey and U2, Falke is currently prepping his eagerly awaited second solo album, also titled Alpha, set for release later this year.

On his Metronome mix, Falke traverses a forest of genres, giving a heavy nod to his storied days in French house and big-upping fellow Frenchmen Daft Punk. Much like Alpha, his mix is packed with the type of feel-good vibes you’d expect from a man living his best days under the California sun.

Track List:: Daft Punk “The Son of Flynn” vs. Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers “Get Lucky” (Fred Falke Mashup)
Rome Fortune “Dance” (Fred Falke Remix)
Kayper “What You Say” (Mediate Remix)
Sirens of Lesbos “Long Days, Hot Nights” (Fred Falke Remix)
Fred Falke “It’s a Memory” (Ferdinand Weber Remix)
Kidnap Kid ft. Leo Stannard “Moments”
Bob Moses “Tearing Me Up” (RAC Mix)
Jonas Rathsman “Wolfsbane”
Amtrac “Solid Thinking”
Midnight City ft. Raphaella “Just Like That”
Mike Mago “The Gift” (Mark Knight Remix)
Fred Falke & the Knocks “Geronimo”
Fred Falke “All of My Love”
The Whitest Boy Alive “Golden Cage” (Fred Falke Remix)
Fred Falke “It’s a Memory” (FDVM Remix)