RENCH 79 presents his first electronic music album: both synthetic and organic, introspective and liberating. 　　 　　Olympicis the name of the first solo effort by Simon Henner. Hailing from Marseilles, the man boasts an impressive resume: a talented album producer (Kid Francescoli, Martin Mey), singer, guitarist (Husbands, Nasser), a sought after remixer (Black Devil Disco Club, NZCA/Lines, Les Gordon, Field Music...) and composer for films and ads (check out the impressive digital experience '3 Mots Pour Paris'). 　　 　　From the cinematic opening track ‘Between The Buttons’ to the blissful and final climax of 'Pantheon Neon', French 79 produces a ‘tour de force’, managing to deliver an album that reaches the emotional heights rarely touched by today's electronic music. 　　 　　With melody at the forefront, tracks range from dancefloor bombs to dreamy abstraction and modern "gospel" anthems, taking the listener on a vivid journey through an intense range of senses and emotions. 　　 　　Back in the 90's while studying at the classical musicconservatory, Simon was introduced to Techno music through a friend's mixtape. Having been a Beastie Boys fan while in his teens he similarly found his foray into this new music, particularly Daft Punk's first album, an absolute revelation. 　　 　　"After Nirvana and Wu tang, this was my last teenager's musical crush. The last album I listened to on repeat mode for months and months. Homework is one of these albums that throw a bridge between different musical genres. Beastie Boys showed me how to link Rock and hip-hop, Daft Punk did the same with Techno and Pop" 　　 　　Simon soon started buying his first electronic gear, synths and drum machines but kept on practicing drums, guitar and piano. After a short span as a hip-hop producer, he was offered composition work for extreme sports videos which led him to expand his studio equipment (Moog, MS10, Juno...) and develop his production skills further. 　　 　　"At that time I became obsessed with gear, spending lots of time reading user's manuals and digging in the crates looking for synths masters like Tangerine Dream, Soft Machine, Kraftwerk... I love the moods, the sounds and textures of their albums. It brings lots of images to my mind, lots of storytelling. So I start producing a bit in this way, with modern rythmicité patterns but also lots of melodies and chord progressions, that are directly linked to things i experienced." 　　 　　During his spare time, Simon plays around with his synths and drum machines just for the sake of enjoying the creative process. 　　He doesn't know it yet, but he's gathering material for his most accomplished work to date. 　　 　　“These tracks are reflecting something entirely personal : i produced them following my sole instinct, without sharing thoughts about them with anyone. Oddly enough, the idea of an album came from my studio mates who insisted i shouldn't throw all that work away!” 　　 　　“Surfin, skateboarding, paragliding... in France, California, Brazil, Bali, Tahiti... As far as I can remember my other passions have always been sports and trips. Everytime I go on a journey I come back with more images, more melodic ideas, rhythms, moods...that push me to compose and produce again: doubt, hesitation, fear, discovery, trial and error, surprise, relief, joy, ecstasy, contemplation, wonderment... Beyond all this, it's the feeling to be free and not owing anything to anyone that drives me to compose.”