detroit techno
Channel One – Technicolor [M003]
Metroplex continues its run of reissues with two more seminal releases from the label’s golden back catalog. First off is Catalog number M003, aka late 80’s Metroplex electro staple Channel One, a Juan Atkins joint with Doug Craig (Carl Craig’s cousin) on vocals. Futuristic and playful techno from the late 80s which soundwise evolves from Cybotron and the obvious Kraftwerk influences. Juan Atkins said about the release in a 2005 interview that “it was more fun than politically driven, just about the colors and combination spread from colors”. An important release in the history of Techno from both a cultural and creative perspective. Channel One’s technicolor has been carefully remastered from the original tapes.
Stasis – Quondam Sequences [ASGDE043]
The second 12” from Stasis on De:tuned. Steve Pickton is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the early UK techno scene. Here he returns with a new 3 track EP of carefully selected and previously unreleased DAT tape tracks from the heyday of 90s electronic music. On offer a uniquely lush and sentimental style that resonates with the 313 Motor City sound. Sweet memories are the greatest kind of nostalgia.
Frequency – Turn The Light [RRR007]
Repetitive Rhythm Research mainstay Frequency returns to the series with ”Turn The Light”. Taking cues from classic Detroit influences, but taking it even deeper with trippy vocal edits and tight production. Alden Tyrell & Serge turn the lights up with a bottom heavy remix. ”Space Dub Work” closes in style with it’s deep dubby breakbeat.
Luke Hess – These Streets [DOLLYTS01]
Dolly is kicking off a new TS series, focused on serious high quality techno in the widest sense. The first release in the series comes from Detroit dub techno specialist, Luke Hess. Dynamic, pumpy and melodic, deep techno bombs with super solid remixes by Portuguese techno talent Vil as well as the Italian power duo Fireground.
Rod20 – White On EP [ROD2009]
Robert Hood – Master Builder [TRESOR032]
Twenty five years after its initial release, and accompanying the re-release of ‘Internal Empire’ Tresor Records present a new cut and pressing (180gm) of Robert Hood’s essential ‘Master Builder’. The ongoing importance of this single and its adjacent album is indisputable, essential both to techno and to Tresor. It is a history intertwined. This work elevates its maker as master, and remains a cherished moment in the Tresor story, sharing an irrefutable singular magic, sounding as present and indispensable as when first created. To understand this work fully is to stand back and celebrate its impact.
Millsart – Morning Glory [AX115]
Part of the Axis Expressionist Series. A collection of vinyl and limited digital releases, curated by Millsart, an alias of Jeff Mills, of his most eclectic and transcendent compositions that derive from his Every Dog Has Its Day project as well as new unreleased works. Vernacular creations that fall off from the ”other side” of the Electronic Music tree, this project is designed for the experienced Techno music listener, and its goal is to reflect upon the pure artistry of the craft of storytelling. A realization between music and life. Whereas ”dancing” is the goal of Dance Music, the goal of this music is about ”reflecting on the complexity and simplification of life”. Soundtracks for people in their evolutionary process.
Delano Smith / Norm Talley – Straight Up No Chaser [UAR015]
Norm Talley returns to his Upstairs Asylum label alongside fellow US house pioneer Delano Smith for Straight Up No Chaser, an eight-track opus featuring four solo cuts each. Talley’s gritty, dubbed-out, low-rolling house style is present and correct throughout with the loopy chords of ‘Blak Bottom’ getting things going, ‘The Flip’ getting more cavernous and aqueous and ‘ISO Vision’ leaning into dub techno. ‘Believe It’ is a soulful deep house looper, while Smith gets bubbly with ‘The Bassline’, lays down thumping kicks on ‘Travels 23’ and his trademark synth smears on ‘The Drive’ while ‘Remembrance’ is a heady dub house cut that locks you into a state of perfect hypnosis.
Brian Kage – Analog Heart, Magnetic Soul EP [CKNOWEP53]
Detroit alumni Brian Kage joins Craigie Knowes for the release of his “Analog Heart, Magnetic Soul” EP. 4 stone-cold cuts carved from bedrock of lake Michigan. 4 club-rocking beats that’ll beam you up from the streets and transport you straight to the edge of the cosmos.
Model 500 – Starlight [M024]
Metroplex continues its run of reissues with more seminal releases from the label’s essential back catalog. The long-awaited reissue of M024: Model 500’s eternal techno meditation “Starlight”, a mid-90s collaboration with dub techno maestro Moritz von Oswald of Basic Channel, Maurizio, and Rhythm & Sound fame. Remastered from original tapes and sounding super fresh.
Mike Huckaby – The Tresor EP [TRESOR252]
Following the club and label’s 20th Anniversary back in 2011, Tresor memorialised its two decades of existence with an exclusive mix from one of its esteemed Detroit connections, Mike Huckaby. On that mix, Mike Huckaby included an exclusive production of his, the first one to be released on Tresor Records. Today, Tresor announces the repress of the “The Tresor Track” on wax, making up for a massive A.side cut at 45 RPM. This title is on its way to stand along with the label’s most important classics, a genuine anthem for the Berlin techno institute.
Viktor Apo – Regenerate EP [A.R.T.LESS2172]
Berlin’s Mojuba Records welcome Viktor Apo to the a.r.t.less family, exporting these sonic labour-fruits from the heart of Macedonia. ‘Regenerate’ is a wicked Detroit-technical EP; fast, hat-led, synthetically morphologic. Opener ‘Flow’ lives up to its name with a meandering, oxbow-laking chordstream set channelled through a driving, pistoning techno backbone. Then come the comparative cascaders ‘Royal S’ and ‘Regenerate’, both of which keep the pace. Finally, we’re met with ‘Aerial Scape’, which occupies a strange boxy stratosphere – an ultra-minimal track in progression and texture.
Arbilla – Moving Forward [XIST002-12]
Dublin based Phil Robertson DJ/Producer alias Arbilla is back with it’s second release on his own imprint Xistence Records. This 4 tracker EP brings some dark Detroit Techno where classic meets the modern sound. Detroit’s techno legend, lifetime member of Underground Resistance, master of the darkness James Pennington aka Suburban Knight on remix duty… pure Detroit machine funk, more groove oriented version with filthy bass.
Kyle Hall – Cosmic Touch EP [APNEA105]
Apnea 105 presents Kyle Hall in pure Detroit Techno explorations, deep and cosmic dancefloor burners crafted around Hall’s signature syncopated rhythms, reminiscent of Detroit’s 90s Matrix Records era.
MPU420 – BPM1 [IT057]
Releases on the Ilian Tape label are nearly always two things – a) shrouded in mystery, and b) a little unconventional. Given that the painter who created the artwork gets a credit on the 12″s label but the musician or musicians themselves get no mention, it’s fair to assume a) has been fulfilled. The music itself fulfils b) too, as hard edged rhythms clocking in closer to electro than techno provide a vehicle much softer, more sensitive musical flourishes. ‘WantU’ is probably the overall highlight, with its crystal clear arp riffing and Kraftwerk-esque bumping, but ‘Chiemgau606’, the rawer ‘OSC’ and ‘Sinister808’ should all appeal to those who like their grooves esoteric and full of personality – but ultimately still dancefloor slaying.
Surgeon – Balance [TRESOR096]
Tresor Records is fortunate enough to be sitting on a catalogue of past releases that no other label in electronic music would turn down. One of the finest in this collection were contributed by Surgeon. His inimitable combination of Detroit techno and post-industrial sounds emanating from his British homeland found its fullest expression in these masterful trio of releases. Tresor Records have decided that its time to give ‘Balance’ another airing.
Surgeon – Basictonalvocabulary [TRESOR073]
Tresor Records is fortunate enough to be sitting on a catalogue of past releases that no other label in electronic music would turn down. One of the finest in this collection were contributed by Surgeon. His inimitable combination of Detroit techno and post-industrial sounds emanating from his British homeland found its fullest expression in these masterful trio of releases. Tresor Records have decided that its time to give ‘Basictonalvocabulary’ another airing.
Sterac / Kr!Z – Lightworks [RYCL019]
The next Reclaim Your City pays tribute to the Benelux techno connection as they welcome Dutch maestro Steve Rachmad under his Sterac alias and Token boss Kr!z to the fold. Each contributing a brace of the typically elegant hard-hitters they’ve become so widely reputed for, the pair has us swinging in balance between proper floor-destroying potency and mind-expanding otherworldliness. A homage to the uncluttered and beautifully escapistic vision they’ve advocated throughout their career and continue to push in their various endeavors, RYCL019 is a feast for the purists as much as a compellingly future-facing manifesto: classic in essence but vanguard in its quest.
Swoze – Church EP [FCR020]
The Church EP features four high-energy dancefloor tracks in the signature Bootybass style, by the one ”Swoze” guaranteed to get everybody moving. With Westcoast and G Funky vibes throughout, this EP delivers the perfect mix of fast-paced grooves and soulful melodies that will leave you either pimpin or craving for more.
The Hipodrome Of Music 