By Your Side

Released in 2012 on the legendary Ed Banger Records, By Your Side marked a significant pivot for the label from the 'heavy metal' electro of the mid-2000s toward a more melodic, funk-indebted sound. Produced by Thibaut Berland, the album is a masterclass in 'nu-disco' production, blending analog synthesizers with live-feeling instrumentation to recreate the boogie and post-disco era of 1979-1983. The album's success was propelled by the massive underground hit 'Baby I'm Yours' (though notably absent from some editions, its spirit defines the record), which established Breakbot's signature 'sunlight-in-a-box' aesthetic. Critics, including those at BBC Music, noted the album's obsessive attention to detail, praising its ability to evoke the West Coast AOR sound of Michael McDonald or Steely Dan while maintaining a modern electronic pulse. It remains a definitive document of the second wave of French Touch, moving away from filtered house into sophisticated, song-oriented pop-funk.