my furst detroit techno albumm

The ones I really like are the the "Time: Space" compilation on Transmat and the three Plus 8 Classics CDs. All of these are a good listens.

A1 Model 500 - No UFO's (D-Mix)
A2 Reese - Just Another Chance
A3 Mayday - Freestyle
B1 Rhythim Is Rhythim - The Dance (The Living Room Mix)
B2 R-Tyme - R-Theme (Mayday Mix)
mixed by Mayday
B3 Cybotron - Clear
C1 Reese - Rock To The Beat (Mayday Mix)
mixed by Mayday
C2 X Ray - Let's Go (Dub Mix)
C3 Blake Baxter - When We Used To Play (Unreleased Mix)
produced by Kevin Saunderson
D1 First Bass - Seperate Minds
D2 Kevin Saunderson - The Groove That Won't Stop
D3 Rhythim Is Rhythim - Strings Of Life (Unreleased Mix)

here are the liner notes!
http://www.ele-mental.org/ele_ment/said&did/emotions_electric.html

DJ Rolando's 'Aztec Mystic Mix' is surely what you're looking for, then.

My coup last week was finding Juan Atkin's Enter Cybotron album on Fantasy for 5 bucks!!

And "Innovator" needs to be in your collection.

I am not sure where you are coming from musically, but I will let you know what I feel. As posted above, the Psyche/BFC comp on Planet E and Innovator on Transmat/Sony are absolutely essential. Both are in print.

Probably the most obvious place to start would be Techno: The New Dance Sound Of Detroit on Ten Records. It was the record that broke Detroit Techno across the world. Derrick May compiled the tracks for this, and this was the record that helped separate Detroit Techno from Chicago Acid House. Unfortunately, it is out of print.

Retro/Techno is alright, but it is more of a trainspotter totem record rather than something you would actively listen to; it is interesting because it features a lot of alternate mixes of the hits, as well as being the first release to feature what would become the "icon" mix of Strings Of Life. Only buy this if you want to impress your friends. Very out of print.

You might want to look into Relics-A Transmat Compilation, which was a Derrick May mix cd that came out on Buzz Records in the early 90's. It has its moments, but I am not going to praise it to the stars. Detroit Techno was/is a 12" singles record industry, so it is best to approach it from that angle. Once again, out of print.

You might also want to look into Kenny Larkin's first album Azimuth that came out on Warp in like 94(I believe) as well as Seven Days which came out on a Belgian label called Elypsia in 97. Both are very good examples on mid-90's deep Detroit Techno. I believe both are out of print.

Juan Akins has a best of that came out on R&S in 93 called Model 500: Classics. Great comp, has just about everything you would need from him as far as the old Metroplex classics go. The only thing it lacks is Infoworld from the Ocean To Ocean 12" on Transmat. Definitely something you should check out. I am not sure, but I know R&S has not been doing too well since Renaat bet that Alex Reece was the future of electronic music, and lost. Probably out of print.

Kevin Saunderson did the Faces And Phases comp on Planet E back in 97. It is a decent comp, although it lacks the essential Inner City hits Good Life and Big Fun (because they were released on Virgin records). It is decent stuff, but to be honest I don't really care for it that much. My interest in it is academic if you know what I mean. Not essential, but in print.

Dj Rolando's Aztec Mystic mix on Underground Resistance is absolutely brilliant, and you should definitely try and get a hold of it. It does not represent first wave Detroit Techno, so much as second and third wave Detroit labels associated with Submerge. In Print, and very worth having.

Another couple CD's to look into would be Tresor II: Detroit/Berlin A Techno Alliance and the Tresor III compilation, both on Tresor. Both have a lot of great material by a number of Detroit artists. These were in my car tape player constantly when I first started going to Raves in Detroit in 95. I am not sure if my attachment to them is sentimental to me or not, but they both mean a lot to me personally. I am not sure if they are in print.

Also, you might want to look into the Depth Charge series from Submerge. It is a four volume CD comp series that showcases the best tracks that came out of Submerge. There are a lot of classics on those cds. Definitely worth looking into, and most of them should be available.

There are a lot of other records I could mention, but for the moment, just get a hold of Psyche/BFC on Planet E, Innovator, hunt down a copy of Model 500 Classics on Ebay, and get a copy of The Aztec Mystic Mix.

That Recloose record is the shit. He has a strong take on West London Broken beat house.

Also, I will respond to the Derrick May thread in the next day or two.

But anyway, if anyone knows any trainspotters who want to pay an exorbitant amount of money for my copy, let me know. Otherwise it will probably be available at Kim's in New York in the not too distant future...

So the transmat comp gets you loads of wispy, melancholy string tracks (naturally, it's on may's label) while stuff on UR or associated with octave one is pounding saunderson-esque stuff.

if anything argues against a unitary "detroit techno" it's the fact that you can't find a single "detroit" comp. that represents all three strands. besides, i think you might as well skip the "classic" first-wave stuff if you want a detroit primer because it's all quite a bit underwhelming at first anyway.

i think the best detroit summation is juan atkin's mastermix vol. 1, esp. since it doesn't lean too heavily on any one style or other and stretches out by letting less-classifiable stuff like rob hood and dj assault in the mix (also lets euros and chicago artists in).

still, i think it's easier to get your head around than trying to struggle all those single-artist comps. it also helps you hear the forbidden and denied detroit-microhouse connection (though if you can find it 4 hero's "deepest shade of techno" comp. makes a really really good job of connecting dots between detroit and say, playhouse or perlon).

also check the "warp 10+1 : influences" comp.

Hmmm, I think I like the Mayday Rock to the Beat more! Cheers, I would have lost that otherwise.

While I'm being a trainspotting wanker, one other crucial out-of-print (and strangely underappreciated) record: Underground Resistance, Revolution for Change.

(Yes, Deepest Shade of Techno is great! Haven't played that in a while, will now listen for "forbidden and denied" microhouse connection)

First Wave not underwhelming at all in my book. I still listen to that shit more than any other techno. And I'm not a purist about it, either.

Back in the day Detroit was much more of a community. The reason being that you had to be friends with everybody because you could not get information on running record labels and getting distribution, and engineering records from the web. You had to know everybody because the only way you could be down 15 years ago is by being involved with one of those three labels, Transmat, Metroplex, and KMS. That was it in Detroit, the whole world. The other thing too, back in thhe day you could not buy a little 500$ computer and be good to go for tracks, they all had to get along because they were all borrowing each others equipment so they could make tracks. There was a time when there was only one 909 between all the producers in Detroit, and it belonged to Kevin Saunderson.

As time passes, the politics have gotten worse and worse and a lot of people are at each others throats these days. There is a lot of infighting, and people not getting along. The DEMF was probably the worst thing that could have happened the the electronic music community in Detroit. It shattered whatever was left of the community, especially among the older black producers. It created a lot of bad feelings and distrust.

Basically, the reason you do not see a lot of cross over between the threads is because each of those threads are maintained by a different set of cliques who export to different sections of the dance market. Also, the dance market is so specialist these days, you need to stick to one particular sound, and represent that sound to its fullest.

Also, I think your recommendations are excellent, Vahid.

For me Retro Techno is the one to plump for - if you can get hold of it!

It has a mix of Strings of Life - which overshadows the original by a long way and just gives you those feelings! Forget the original this beatless mix is the shiznit

Retro Techno has got all the other key tunes from the Belville 3 inc No Ufos, the original Reese baseline tune Just Another Chance. Clear etc.

There have been some super Detroit style Techno compilations - most of which mentioned upthread - esp the 4 hero compiled Deeper Shade of Techno. Incidentally there is a new compilation out on Irma compiled by Volcov which aims to follow in the Deeper Shade tradition - it is called "Soul in Motion" and is available from Vinyl Junkies in London. Well worth picking up if Detroit is your thing ?

Anyone on here remember "Virual Sex" on Buzz? Probably my fav ever techno compilation - came with 3d glasses and cover too! Got probably the best emotional techno tunes on all time on it inc At Les, Tedra, Shambala, Icon, Mystical Adventure- wicked!

Ben - Revolution for Change - yes! It has got "The Theory" on it by UR - how come no one ever talks about this tune which along with Hi Tec Jazz and Star Sailing got to be the best stuff they have done.

true spirit
http://www.discogs.com/release/32293

Juan Atkins - 20 Years Metroplex: 1985 - 2005
http://www.discogs.com/release/441574

So many MANY years later I decided to cook while listening to Infinti's "Skynet" and am awed at how well it's aged. Detroit Techno refined to a brittle, vaporous and lovely essence.

Speaking of aging well, the Aril Brikha Deeparture in Time LP on Transmat sounds as fresh today as it did 30-ish years ago.

Oh yeah. I listened to that around Xmas after a long while and truly enjoyed it. I remember how anticipated that was before prior to its release.

*how that was prior to its release.

Both amazing albums ^^^^

Cheers for this revive. Soundtracked my whole weekend. Just the best music.

The Aril Brikha album was new to me and I can't stop listening to it. Magnificent hi-hats.