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An easy-listening trip-hopster similar in style and intent to his countrymen Air and Dimitri from Paris, Kid Loco has an even stronger kinship with the long tradition of French pop characterized by Serge Gainsbourg. Otherwise known as Jean-Yves Prieur, he began playing the guitar at the age of 13 and played in several French punk groups during the early '80s.
He moved on to production as well by the end of the decade, and moved on to reggae and hip-hop with a band named Mega Reefer Scratch. By 1996, Prieur had built his own studio, christened himself Kid Loco and released the Blues Project EP for Yellow Productions. The full-length A Grand Love Story appeared one year later, earning praise from many in the indie-rock and electronica community. A remix album was released in 1998.
Prieur also accompanied St. Etienne's Sarah Cracknell for a rendition of "The Man I Love" from the Gershwin tribute Red Hot + Rhapsody, and has remixed Stereolab, Pulp, Mogwai, the High Llamas, Dimitri from Paris and Talvin Singh. The reconfigured Prelude to a Grand Love Story appeared in 1999 as Loco's US full-length debut, and the remix album Jesus Life for Children Under 12 Inches followed later that same year.