Moustache (Half a Scissor)

Released in 2005 on F Communications, Moustache (Half a Scissor) represented a radical departure for Quentin Dupieux (Mr. Oizo). Following the massive success of 'Flat Beat', expectations were for more accessible, puppet-friendly electro-house. Instead, Dupieux delivered a dense, glitch-heavy work of IDM and experimental techno that polarized his audience. The album was famously difficult to market, leading to a split with his label. Sonically, it is defined by the use of the Korg MS-20 and extreme digital editing, where samples are micro-chopped into unrecognizable textures. It predates the 'wonky' and 'deconstructed club' movements by years, showcasing a level of rhythmic complexity that borders on the mathematical. Despite its initial cold reception, it has since been vindicated as a cult classic and a high-water mark for experimental electronic music in the mid-2000s.