Enfants

"Enfants" is a 2008 single by electronic music producer Ricardo Villalobos. Though 17 minutes in length, the A-side, "Enfants (Chants)", has been described as a "remarkably catchy, hype-inducing DJ tool" by Pitchfork Media,[1] and as a "great tool for DJs" by electronic music magazine Resident Advisor, due to its minimal changes over the course of the entire song.[2]

"Enfants"
French word
Single by Ricardo Villalobos
A-side"Enfants (Chants)"
B-side"Enfants (Tambours)"
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2008 (2008-02-22)
GenreMinimal techno,
microhouse
Length17:05
LabelSei Es Drum,
Word and Sound
Producer(s)Ricardo Villalobos
Ricardo Villalobos singles chronology
"'Sei Es Drum'"
(2007)		 "Enfants"
(2008)		 "'Vasco'"
(2008)

Structure

The branding of "Enfants (Chants)" as a "DJ tool" is due to its unusual structure, incorporating "no development over its seventeen minute length".[2] The song is based on a repeating sample of "Baba Yaga La Sorcière", a track from Christian Vander's 1995 rework of his band Magma's Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh (1973).[2] With the addition electronic drums and hi-hat, it "turns snippet of a prog rock classic into a minimal techno classic."[3] The sample simply fades in at the beginning, and fades out at the piece's conclusion. The minimal development through the song invites seamless DJ mixing;[2] Villalobos himself stated that "the idea is that anyone can mix whatever track into this track because it doesn't have too much melody, tones or harmony inside."[4]

The B-side, "Enfants (Tambours)", is a ten-minute "DJ tool" in a similar style, consisting of only percussion and bass.[2]

Reception

"Enfants (Chants)" was released to much hype,[5] and received generally positive reviews. It was given a 5 star rating by DJ Magazine[6] and was rated 3.5/5 in a review by Resident Advisor.[2] It was also featured in a number of "best of 2008" lists, including being named the 52nd best track of 2008 by Pitchfork Media[7] and a "Critical Beat" of 2008 in The Wire's "2008 Rewind" issue.[8] "Enfants (Chants)" was also featured on The Wire's April 2008 "Office Ambience" chart, with reviews editor Derek Walmsley referring to the song as a "minimal techno masterpiece".[9]

Track listing
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Enfants (Chants)"17:08
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Enfants (Tambours)"10:08

References
  1. Finney, Tim (2008-06-23). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Ricardo Villalobos: Vasco EP Part 1". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  2. Burns, Todd L. (2008-02-28). "RA: Ricardo Villalobos - Enfants (Chants) - Single Review". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  3. Warren, Emma (2008-04-20). "Various, Live At The End 01(endclub.com)". The Observer. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  4. Kale, Stephanie (2008-02-27). "Catching Up with Ricardo Villalobos". MUTEK.org. Archived from the original on 2010-07-17. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  5. Sherburne, Philip (2008-02-13). "Pitchfork: Techno: Techno". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  6. "Ricardo Villalobos - Enfants (Chants) - Sei es Drum". DJ Magazine. 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  7. "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The 100 Best Tracks of 2008". Pitchfork Media. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  8. "2008 Rewind". The Wire. 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  9. Walmsley, Derek (2008-03-18). "The Mire: more is less". The Wire. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
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