I’m one of the old farts who finds most of Autechre’s recent stuff a baffling jumble of noise and maths, but they produced some of my all-time favourite records back in the days when they still wrote beats you could nod your head to. This is taken from the triple-10” box set of Basscadet remixes… Continue reading Autechre – Basscadet (Tazmx)
Tag: techno
Dajae – Day By Day (Carl Craig dub)
I suspect I’m not alone in having heard this for the first time on Carl Craig’s absolutely killer 1995 Essential Mix, where it emerges from the Blade Runner soundtrack to start the set off with an almighty bang. Raw-as-fuck drums and an unlikely Steely Dan sample form the backbone, and the only elements from the… Continue reading Dajae – Day By Day (Carl Craig dub)
Playlist: The Drake, Glasgow, 15th November 2013
For the past couple of years, on most Friday nights, I've been lucky enough to play four hours of soul, jazz, hip hop, house and techno at one of my favourite pubs, The Drake in Glasgow. Here's a snapshot of last week's selections for anyone interested. One of these days I might even get round… Continue reading Playlist: The Drake, Glasgow, 15th November 2013
Lark – Tedra
Here’s one to file alongside De-Orbit - a slice of melancholy Detroit loveliness that for my money ranks as Kenny Larkin’s finest moment. It first appeared on Buzz Records’ Virtual Sex album in 1993 - a strong contender for best techno compilation of all time, featuring such monumental classics as Rhythim Is Rhythim’s Icon and… Continue reading Lark – Tedra
Speedy J – De-Orbit
OK, so I’m sure most readers know this track inside out, but I got such a buzz when I played it on Friday night that it more than deserves an airing on here. I don’t think Speedy J has ever bettered this sublime slice of downbeat techno, which is a certified desert island disc for… Continue reading Speedy J – De-Orbit
Ian o’Brien – Natural Knowledge
As Ian’s now got a load of new and old stuff available to buy on Bandcamp, I thought I’d pick out a personal fave from his awesome back catalogue. From 1999’s Gigantic Days album on Peacefrog, this is simply one of the most life-affirming, joyous pieces of electronic music I’ve ever heard. Using an ingenious flip… Continue reading Ian o’Brien – Natural Knowledge
Psyche – Neurotic Behaviour (Mayday Reproduction Mix)
One to file alongside the OTT flanger mayhem of Rhythim Is Rhythim’s Kaos: no one manipulates loops with quite so much demented energy as Derrick May on these kind of tracks. Aside from some subdued chords that creep into the mix during the last third, this is just an enormous synth hook and classic Mayday… Continue reading Psyche – Neurotic Behaviour (Mayday Reproduction Mix)
Inertia – Nowhere To Run
For all that A Guy Called Gerald is rightly celebrated as a drum & bass pioneer (and for the timeless Voodoo Ray, obviously), it’s often overlooked that he made a handful of excellent underground house and techno cuts early in his career. His first link with Detroit came in 1989 in the form of Derrick… Continue reading Inertia – Nowhere To Run
Luke Slater’s 7th Plain – Time Melts
Here’s another prime cut from the post-Artificial Intelligence glory days of British techno. Luke Slater could be a bit hit and miss – for every great track there seemed to be plenty of banging rubbish – but when he nailed it he was right up there for me. The majestic opening track of his 1994… Continue reading Luke Slater’s 7th Plain – Time Melts
DFA – 3/5 Human
Not to be confused with James Murphy's New York operation, this DFA is a Detroiter named James Trammell, and the snappily-titled Microstructural Characterization EP - the only thing he ever released, to my knowledge - made a few quiet waves when it emerged on his own Surveillance label back in 2001. All three tracks are excellent… Continue reading DFA – 3/5 Human
Nothin' But Magic 