Weasel Busters

Weasel Busters

Weasel Busters is a French hardtek and tekno act from Montpellier, in the south of France. The collective is formed in 1997 by Joss, R-one, Toniox and Mat, and it develops around the Weasel Busters Sound System and the free party scene.

History and formation

The group begins in 1997, after its members are drawn into hardtechno and freeparty culture. Joss produces the first EP in 2001 with tracks by Mat and Toniox. That release is later repressed by Pinguins Records on Humungus Records and becomes the starting point for a long run of parties, travels and meetings around the project.

Members and roles

Joss acts as the DJ who mixes disco, punk and hardtechno. Toniox performs as a DJ and live act with an English-influenced broken-beat sound. R-one is described as the group’s composer of psychiatric doomcore. Mat works as a composer and live act, known for jumping and shouting during performances and for representing the tribe through releases and live sets around the world. Other members include Bryan and Thiboo, who also move between sound systems and vehicles as part of the wider WB network.

Style and development

Mat begins making music in the early 1990s after becoming interested in techno. Between 1992 and 1996 he composes and performs happy hardcore, as well as acidcore, trancecore and Detroit techno. After discovering free parties and taking influence from gabber, punk and techno, he develops a fast, humorous and aggressive tekcore style alongside a cheezy electro-techno-house approach. The group’s tags also include happy tekcore, crazy tekno and hardcore.

Releases and performances

Mat composes around 40 vinyl and CD releases. Weasel Busters perform in clubs and raves across France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic and Japan, among other places, with a live set described as happy, original and strong. The project remains associated with energetic live performance and the wider hardtechno/freeparty circuit.