Handbraekes

Handbraekes is a collaborative project between German producer Boys Noize (Alex Ridha) and French musician/filmmaker Mr. Oizo (Quentin Dupieux).

Formed in 2012, the duo serves as a playground for their most experimental and rhythm-focused impulses. Their sound identity is defined by a 'no-frills' approach to production, utilizing analog hardware to create gritty, saturated textures that bridge the gap between hard techno and avant-garde electro. Ridha provides the structural backbone and heavy-hitting sonic weight, while Dupieux injects the characteristic 'Oizo' absurdity, featuring nonsensical vocal loops and unpredictable melodic shifts. Their discography, primarily released through Boysnoize Records, consists of numbered EPs that have maintained a consistent aesthetic of mechanical minimalism. Critically, they are viewed as a 'supergroup' that avoids the pitfalls of commercial EDM, instead influencing the underground electro-house and techno scenes with their raw, unpolished sound design. Their work is essential for collectors of the Ed Banger and BNR catalogs.