Today Jeff Mills releases The Clairvoyant on Axis Records, a 16-track journey in true Wizard fashion. The Clairvoyant represents this time and era, with Mills exploring the metaphysical through the deepest, most emotional Techno in many years.
Not many people “get” techno, and to many, it sounds the same repetitive beat over and over. While its original appeal factor was rooted in the underground, over the years parts of it have filtered into the mainstream with genres like hip-hop and pop borrowing from its elements. All you techno snobs are probably shaking your fist (or head) at the use of the word “mainstream,” but hold up. Before you get bent out of shape, get an earful load of fun facts about a genre we so love. Here are techno tracks using iconic samples from non-electronic genres or becoming the sample itself, showing how music knows no borders. Music is inspired by its own history and continues to inspire other sounds and styles. Once you get a taste of techno you can see how much flavor it really has. Read more
The history of techno is undoubtedly one that traces back to the late 1980s and the black American artists in Detroit who pioneered the genre. It was in the Motor City that the sounds of techno began to take form, soon becoming the popular genre that we know today, exported all over the world.
All of this would not be possible if not for the pioneering efforts of artists that founded and produced techno in Detroit during those formative years. Detroit artists the likes of Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Jeff Mills, Kevin Saunderson, Blake Baxter, Santonio Echols, and Will Thomas shaped the sound of techno as we know it, pretty much writing the manual for techno music.
Racism in Techno exists and it has, unfortunately, been around for decades. Eddie Fowlkes certainly agrees, and if you take a look at any of Jeff Mills’ Facebook posts from the last 3-4 months you will find plenty of evidence of it.
Eddie Fowlkes is the history of Detroit Techno and not just because his handprints are cemented in the Detroit Historical Museumâs âLegends Plaza.â His 30+ years of moving a dancefloor and his 150+ deep catalog of soulful classics speak for themselves. So when he speaks, we listen.
It’s an honor to welcome Detroit Techno Originator Eddie Fowlkes to the Global Vibe Radio family with this recording of his live stream for us on July 22nd, 2020.
For this week’s Global Vibe Radio episode we invite Lyric Hood, an artist in her own right, and one half of Floorplan alongside her father, Detroit Techno legend Robert Hood.
The mix is full of Detroit soul and perfectly captures Lyric’s sound, energy and mood, as she herself tells us in our exclusive interview, where we discuss her relationship with her father, life on the road while touring, favorite gigs and what she does at home when not working on music.
So, get your dancing shoes, press play, and be sure to read our exclusive interview with Lyric Hood below.
The essential Detroit duo of Ataxia make more big moves with a fantastic new EP on Play It Say It.
Ataxia had a huge year in 2018 with EPs on this label, Visionquest and Kevin Saundersonâs KMS following other releases on Leftroom and Nervous. All the while they have maintained their now ten-year residency at top Detroit venue TV Lounge and in the studio they continue to breathe new life into their grooves with elements of acid, cyberpunk and futurism that have found favour from the likes of Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones and Marco Carola.
With Detroit as a main influence behind their project, we asked the 313 duo to share five key Detroit joints that they’ve been personally gifted by other talented producers:
Subradeon return to their self-titled imprint, Subradeon Records with three uplifting cuts entitled Sounds Of Our Mothersâ Mothers including a remix from Exploration boss Johannes Volk.
Italian born, now Berlin-based duo, Subradeon have been building a reputation for themselves honouring a techno sound that combines the soul of Motown with elements of hip hop, jazz, and funk. After releases on Rekids and Motech Records, the duo maintains their vibrant productions with the second release on Subradeon Records. Germanyâs Johannes Volk who is known for his releases Sistrum, Axis and his Exploration imprint jumps on remix duties following his recent release on Cocoon Recordings.
Not only did we get the opportunity of premiering a track from Subreadeon’s latest EP, which you can stream below, but we asked the Italian duo to share 5 Detroit Techno tracks that have influenced their love for techno, and their sound.
Enjoy their choices below!
Our yearly appointment with the best techno festival in North America is fast approaching.
Movement Detroit is next month, taking place during Memorial Day Weekend within the confines of Hart Plaza in the heart of Detroit!
