Origins of a Sound
OK, so this is not by any means a Detroit Techno blog. However it will inevitably reflect what i'm listening to... and right now i'm still deep into one of my Detroit phases. This music is just timeless, and I find myself returning to it again and again.
Despite my Detroit obsession I had always assumed that Cybotron's 'Clear' was the first real techno tune - produced by Juan Atkins (Model 500) way back in 1983. I discovered recently however that two records preceded this in 1981, and are now generally regarded as the origins of this sound - 'Sharevari' by A Number of Names and 'Alleys of Your Mind', also by Cybotron.
'First' is clearly a grey area. No music has a virgin birth, and the influences of Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder loom large here - however you can clearly trace a line from these records that leads to 'No UFOs', 'Time, Space, Transmat', Derrick May, Inner City... and onwards to the future.
The first I came across 'Sharevari' was a couple of years ago when it was remixed and re-released in Berlin on International Deejay Gigolos, and Detroit on Puzzlebox. Vitalic and Ectomorph tackled the Gigolo issue, while the cream of present day Detroit Electro featured on the double vinyl Puzzlebox release. The Vitalic mix was the first i'd heard of the track, and it seems astonishing hearing the original now that it was made nearly 25 years earlier. With the arpeggiated synths and spoken lyrics it sounds incredibly similar all the Gigolo releases that have been rocking clubs for the last 5 years.
As far as I can tell this was the only record they released.. what a legacy to leave! All the information I can find about 'A Number of Names' is here, so read that there & listen to this here:
A NUMBER OF NAMES - SHAREVARI
Unlike ANON, Juan Atkins is no one-hit wonder. He is still releasing records today, and recently had a new album released on Tresor as well as the honour of having the last ever record played at Berlin's legendary Tresor club (a brand new track). Although this slice of proto-electro is not as famous as it's incredible follow-up 'Clear', it's a cracking tune, and you can hear all the elements that eventually defined the Detroit sound...
CYBOTRON - ALLEYS OF YOUR MIND
Ah, and look at this. Coincidentally, any time now Tresor are releasing a 20 year Juan Atkins / Metroplex double CD retrospective!! Seriously now.. this shit is essential. It looks like it was supposed to be out on 30th March but there's no sign in any online shops yet except for the Tresor store. Absolute quality from start to finish... I've placed my order. Have you?
Buy that along with the upcoming Underground Resistance double CD mentioned on the Techno Rebels site and you will have enough heavenly Detroit tunes to keep you going for a fair old while!
Plus check out Gutterbreakz for some more Detroit reminiscences...
Keep it soulful
Despite my Detroit obsession I had always assumed that Cybotron's 'Clear' was the first real techno tune - produced by Juan Atkins (Model 500) way back in 1983. I discovered recently however that two records preceded this in 1981, and are now generally regarded as the origins of this sound - 'Sharevari' by A Number of Names and 'Alleys of Your Mind', also by Cybotron.
'First' is clearly a grey area. No music has a virgin birth, and the influences of Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder loom large here - however you can clearly trace a line from these records that leads to 'No UFOs', 'Time, Space, Transmat', Derrick May, Inner City... and onwards to the future.
The first I came across 'Sharevari' was a couple of years ago when it was remixed and re-released in Berlin on International Deejay Gigolos, and Detroit on Puzzlebox. Vitalic and Ectomorph tackled the Gigolo issue, while the cream of present day Detroit Electro featured on the double vinyl Puzzlebox release. The Vitalic mix was the first i'd heard of the track, and it seems astonishing hearing the original now that it was made nearly 25 years earlier. With the arpeggiated synths and spoken lyrics it sounds incredibly similar all the Gigolo releases that have been rocking clubs for the last 5 years.
As far as I can tell this was the only record they released.. what a legacy to leave! All the information I can find about 'A Number of Names' is here, so read that there & listen to this here:
A NUMBER OF NAMES - SHAREVARI
Unlike ANON, Juan Atkins is no one-hit wonder. He is still releasing records today, and recently had a new album released on Tresor as well as the honour of having the last ever record played at Berlin's legendary Tresor club (a brand new track). Although this slice of proto-electro is not as famous as it's incredible follow-up 'Clear', it's a cracking tune, and you can hear all the elements that eventually defined the Detroit sound...
CYBOTRON - ALLEYS OF YOUR MIND
Ah, and look at this. Coincidentally, any time now Tresor are releasing a 20 year Juan Atkins / Metroplex double CD retrospective!! Seriously now.. this shit is essential. It looks like it was supposed to be out on 30th March but there's no sign in any online shops yet except for the Tresor store. Absolute quality from start to finish... I've placed my order. Have you?
Buy that along with the upcoming Underground Resistance double CD mentioned on the Techno Rebels site and you will have enough heavenly Detroit tunes to keep you going for a fair old while!
Plus check out Gutterbreakz for some more Detroit reminiscences...
Keep it soulful
posted by headphonesex @ 5:47 PM
