The Hacker

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Hacker is the stage name of Michel Amato, a French electroclash and techno producer from Grenoble. He began making music in 1989, at the age of seventeen. At first he was influenced by Duran Duran, and later he discovered the dark side of electronic music through Cabaret Voltaire and D.A.F. His name comes from a track by Jeff Mills. He was also influenced by Kraftwerk, The Cure, Depeche Mode and the French rave scene of the early 1990s. In 1998 he founded his own label Goodlife Records with friends.

Music and breakthrough

His breakthrough came through a collaboration with Caroline Hervé, known as Miss Kittin. DJ Hell signed them in 1997 to his label International DJ Gigolo. The EPs Champagne (1998) and Intimités (1999) were an immediate success in Germany. Champagne contained 1982 and Frank Sinatra, which quickly became anthems of electroclash. The album First Album (2001) made them known worldwide. The Hacker also made remixes for among others Marc Almond, Fischerspooner and Air. His own albums are Mélodies en Sous-Sol (2000), Electronic Existentialist (2000) and Rêves mécaniques (2004).

Influence

After a break Miss Kittin and The Hacker got back together in 2007, with the double A-side Hometown and Dimanche. In 2009 the second duo album, Two, was released. His music links the cool machines of electro with the pop songs of new wave. In this way he belongs among the producers who, in the years around 2000, brought electronic music back to the clubs and to pop music.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1999Mélodies en Sous-Sol
• 2000Electronic Existentialist
• 2004Rêves mécaniques
• 2005Traces
• 2014The Hacker - Love/Kraft (Complete Edition)
• 2017Le Théâtre des Opérations

Mentioned in other articles

• Electroclash GenreFischerspooner, Peaches, Miss Kittin & The Hacker and the British band Ladytron were the best-known names.