Ark

The amusing person with frivolous curls seems untrustworthy at first glance. However, for knowledgeable French people, Guillaume Ark Berroyer is an undeniable authority on the creation of the signature French sound and a respected mogul in European show business, whose rare performances guarantee full houses in any European club. Behind his unimpressive appearance lies the gray cardinal of the club movement, who has been determining the directions of many music genres for about twenty years. In the early 80s, Monsieur Berroyer (he became Ark much later) played funky guitar, and in the 90s, together with Pepe Bradock, he organized the downtempo duet Trankilou, a couple of tracks from which became hits in France, and records still sell well today. Since 1997, Berroyer has been closely engaged in minimal house, becoming one of the founders and propagators of the style in France. Subsequent successful works include now-classic tracks recorded with Matthew Herbert and tech-house artists Cabanne (Copacabannark) and LoSoul, where Ark indulged himself with his favorite funky basslines, clicks, and otherworldly noises a la Akufen. Berroyer's prolificacy reveals him as a serious musician. Only under the name Ark (the artist also uses the pseudonyms Mr. Full Destructor and Unknown Mysterioso) has he released 24 singles, 17 remixes of various performers, participated in 13 compilations, and recorded 5 full-length albums. The latest album to date, "Caliente" (Perlon) is provocative, dancable, and heavily seasoned with psychedelic voices that issue phrases like "Where's my drugs, motherf***er?" and "I love the rhythm that moves your butt". By mixing a multitude of musical directions and sound processing techniques, Ark produced something loosely defined as punk-funk-click-electro-house. Where seriousness lies and where mockery resides can be difficult to discern: this music is for the intelligent.