This B2B Set from Daft Punk & DJ Sneak is Disco House Heaven
Throughout Dj Sneak's nearly three-decade career, he's influenced the sound of countless producers. In 1997 he released "Sneak's A Freak," one of the earliest iterations of filtered disco house. The groundbreaking sound would go on to dominate dancefloors throughout the late 90s.
Even though many credit French producers for popularizing the sound, DJ Sneak created the blueprint for it. "Sneak's A Freak" was a significant source of inspiration for Daft Punk's 1997 track "Burnin," Dj Sneak even appeared as a background character in the music video shot in Chicago.
The French robots revered those who came before them and name-checked Sneak alongside Green Velvet, Derrick Carter, Paul Johnson, and several other Chicago house legends in "Teachers."
Dj Sneak and Daft Punk kept a close relationship throughout the late '90s and early '00s. Both staples of the halcyon days of Ibiza, they joined forces in 1999 at the now-shuttered El Divino nightclub for a once-in-a-lifetime b2b set.
El Divino's history runs just as deep as the many DJs and residencies that started there. While smaller than clubs like Amnesia and Pacha, it was ranked with the super clubs of the White Isle and was the jumping-off point for parties like Defected and Roger Sanchez's "Release Yourself."
Daft Punk and Dj Sneak's set is a brilliant snapshot of the sound of house music at the time. The trio blazes through hits like Armand van Helden and Dj Sneak's "Psychic Bounty Killaz," Gene Farris' "Low Down Diry World," and "Ghetto Style DJs," by Rhythm Masters. They brought classic disco vibes into the modern era with massive basslines and big banging beats.
The night was also a jumping-off point for even deeper collaborative efforts. Dj Sneak wrote the lyrics for "Digital Love," released in 2001 on Daft Punk's Discovery album.
Epic b2b's are the stuff of legend in dance music. And it goes without saying that this one was historic. We may not have been in the room that night, but at least we can relive the magic through the recording.
