Roulé (French: roulé, lit. 'rolled') was a French record label founded in 1995 by former Daft Punk member Thomas Bangalter. Roulé had a side label entitled Scratché (French: scratché, lit. 'scratched') which released only one record, produced by the Buffalo Bunch (Paul de Homem-Christo and Romain Séo). Roulé was liquidated in 2018.[1]
History
1995–1998: Beginnings
In 1995, Bangalter released Trax On Da Rocks, the first EP and release on the label.[2][3] The EP includes "What To Do,"[4] which would be included in the 2018 film Climax.[5][6]
In 1997, Alan Braxe released "Vertigo" after meeting Bangalter in a night club,[7] which included a remix by Bangalter called the "Virgo Edit." One year after, Roy Davis Jr. released "Rock Shock,"[8] which included another remix by Bangalter called the "Start-Stop Mix."[9]
1998–2003: "Music Sounds Better With You" and hiatus
After the release of "Vertigo," Braxe performed at the Rex Club in Paris, with Bangalter on keyboards and Braxe's friend Benjamin Diamond on vocals. They composed the first version of "Music Sounds Better with You" for the performance, using a looped sample from the 1981 Chaka Khan song "Fate," sampled using an E-mu SP-1200.[10] After polishing the track, "Music Sounds Better with You" was released in 1998, spending two weeks on the BillboardDance Club Songs chart at number 1.[11]
In 1999, Romanthony released "Hold On," which was previously released on his label Black Male Records in 1994.[14][15][16] The Roulé version includes two remixes different from the Black Male version.
2012–2018: Later developments and liquidation
In 2012, Trax On Da Rocks and other releases were reissued, reviving the label for a short period of time.[17][18][19][20]
In December 2018, Roulé was liquidated by Bangalter.[1]
After Daft Punk split, Bangalter created a new label named Alberts & Gothmaan (an anagram of Thomas Bangalter) for his solo project.
Legacy
Roulé has been described as an influential French house label that would "captivate an audience for the rest of time,"[21] with releases that "stands among house music’s most infectious."[22][23]
Although the label was founded in 1995 and released several EPs, Roulé has only released one long player: the Irréversible soundtrack. In an interview, Bangalter once stated:
Roulé’s never really been a “label.” It’s been more of an outlet where there’s a record every year or so. I’ve never made plans for it, and I never will. It’s just something that is there. I know for Guy-Manuel, Crydamoure is more of a label.[24]
Roulé 305 RMX: Stardust – Music Sounds Better with You Remixes – Bibi & Dimitri Anthem from Paris Mix / DJ Sneak's 32 on Red Dub Mix / Chateau Flight Remix / DJ Sneak's 32 on Red Mix [1998]
Roulé 306: Thomas Bangalter – Trax on Da Rocks Vol. 2 – Club Soda / Extra Dry / Shuffle! / Colossus / Turbo [1998]
Roulé 307: Romanthony – Hold On – Classic Vocal / R&B Vocal / Got a Grip Dubb [1999]
Roulé 308: DJ Falcon – Hello My Name Is DJ Falcon – First / Honeymoon / Untitled / Unplugged [1999]
Roulé 309: Thomas Bangalter – Outrage – Outrage / Night Beats / Paris by Night [2003]
