Detroit Techno 26 Items

Exhausted from a 3 years in the making album called Lagarius released in 2023. Gary Martin had a plan to not work in the studio this summer until he realized his Facebook keyboard playing friend named Brian Mars was a.k.a. Javonntte the writer of an exceptional good song on The Mahogany compilation released that year. Gary created the beat for The Infinite Time and Brian sent the bass line and the keys. Then, picking the exotic scale called Persian was how the creation of Zurvan started. Gary Made the beat and Brian sent the bass line and the keys and Lot’s of Teknotika studio wizardry followed to complete this concept Ep.

Vibraphone presents another huge release. This time it's Silicon Minds - IHY (Interstellar Hypnotic Yama -Biko) With an timeless Mayday Tribute Mix by the one and only Derrick May!
Highy recommended!

Vibraphone Records presents 49th Floor - Zamani. incl. Magic K aka Juan Atkins RMX! It's the first new release for 49th Floor after 1992 - highly recommended!

It has been a superb run but now, sadly, we come to the final part of Pariter's Derek Carr reissue series. Carr has been welcomed back into the heart of the underground in recent years with plenty of essential new sounds, but his archives as just as filled with gold. Postlude shows that with four more warm, inviting deep techno cuts embellished with cosmic synth details. 'djk' is a mid-tempo opener with smeared chords over tech-edged drums and 'Theta' gets more techno with golden synth lines rippling through the mix. 'Ariel' has a happy, upbeat feel to the chords and crisp drum funk and 'L'equipe' shuts down with a slightly slower, more laid-back vibe. All killer no filler.

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.

Smooth Detroit influenced techno tracks including a acid work out on the long going Soiree label. Tracks by Tunisian Dj Mourad, Chicago's Teknobrat, Scotlands Jay Strata and Detroit's Drivetrain.

Collection V1" marks FIT SOUND's first compilation, showcasing tracks from renowned artists Jared Wilson, Bizz O.D., and FIT Siegel. Detroit’s own Jared Wilson is a true master of the Tb-303, delivering jacking and melodic acid for over a decade. 'Mind Travel' is a mesmerizing 10-minute journey that intertwines melodic acid lines with ethereal strings. Bizz O.D., an enigmatic figure known for her jackin' acid techno tracks released between '93 and '98, emerges once again with the previously unreleased floor-killing acid stomper, 'One Two,' which, despite being recorded in the mid-'90s, remains as fresh as ever. FIT Siegel's contribution, 'No Feedback,' originated as a sampling exercise in the studio and transformed into an experimental yet functional piece that would find its home in the crates of adventurous DJs."

After flexing his more functional dj-tool approach on the previous Rod20 releases, ROD goes full on Detroit Techno on the Hood Spirit EP with four 1 take hardware jams filled with colour and light.

Hold Me Recordings is Manuel Gonzales and Ryan Spencer. Our objective is to maintain a constant flow of releases from local artists here in Detroit

Detroit legend Omar S returns this week on his always different but always unmissable Fxhe label with the bouncy and neon-lit groove of 'Hard Times', which sees him collaborate once again with Megan Louise of Canadian outfit Desire (Italians Do It Better) on vocals. The original comes backed with a handy instrumental mix and a dreamy, plus an evocative rework by Idib chief Johnny Jewel over on the flip.

From the label: "Detroit’s 2Lanes delivers a heavy mix of tribal and dub percussions, hypnotic and eerie chants, sweeping and resonant synths across four tracks, with a collaboration featuring Jonathan Aylward's expansive stand-up bass licks to close out the EP. The result is a mind-bending, smoked-out psychedelic experience for Psychic Relief’s second release."

Young Detroit-native Kenny Hooper steps up for his debut release on Elypsia Records with not one, not two but three 12 inches full of prime Motor City techno and electro escapism. Titled ,,Detroit Orbiter Series" Volume I, II and III, each EP features four tracks, showcasing Kenny Hooper's brilliant and contemporary personal take on classic Detroit sounds. The twelve tracks of the ,,Detroit Orbiter Series" trilogy signal the arrival of a fresh Motor City talent ready to rake the world and dance floors by storm with his chunky and funkified sonic fictions. Elypsia Records is very proud to welcome Detroit's next generation of promising artists!

Brand new double pack from Detroit Techno legend Gary Martin aka Gigi Galaxy

For those in the know, Brian Kage's chops as a producer and studio wizard are well established. The artist has released on Omar S' Fxhe, Carl Craigs' Planet-E, Steve Bug’s PokerFlat, Rob Modell’s Echospace, his own labels Beretta Music and Michigander, and other imprints, helped launch the careers of internationally respected DJs and producers like Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson, and Luke Hess, and mix, mastered, and engineered for Ataxia, John F.M., OB Ignitt, Monty Luke, and more. Lauded for a sound that is rooted, yet forever forward in its approach, his most recent work, 909 Nights EP, is no exception. The title track reintroduces a winning team with Taho and Kage combining forces again. The release gets off the starting line with a booming kick, that signature drum sound of acid house's most infamous rhythm machine. Syncopated closed hats and cymbal crashes rush in before their crunchy snare and clap companions join in. Pitch bending open hats introduce track progressions like earth shattering orchestral stabs and rich, uplifting piano notes underwritten by deep chords and a fat bass line while short, squelchy, guitar-like licks dance below. As atmospheric as it is bumping, a synthetic flute playfully flutters into the mix, elevated by airy strings and a French filtered elastic brass solo lead. A touch of acid completes this journey through sound. Listeners would be forgiven for thinking they reopened Club Zanzibar in Detroit and this was its anthem. Shifting gears, "Warehouse Vibes" flares up next with phased effects and a filtered kick driving the track along a conveyor belt towards an all-enveloping dubby techno bliss. Pressure steadily builds up before being released in the form of steam flowing from creaky, rusted pipes. While the sonic palette delivers on its promise, this is no ordinary warehouse we've entered the gates into; it's breaking in through the shattered window of an abandoned industrial manufacturing facility territory instead. Perhaps a little fuzzy after the previous beatdown, "jax" is an intentionally full-body workout as the fist-pumping grip of the preceding cut gives way to hip-thrusting, put-your-back-in-it dancing action. Jacking drums lend the track a hefty bounce while the vocals really hammer the point home, in case there was somehow any confusion left as to what to do with this one. An impressing flex, partygoers are guaranteed to be going home seeing gains after each play. The Motor City may make less cars these days, but Brian Kage is an integral component of artists under the 313 emblem ensuring there's no shortage of newer model Detroit house and techno productions that are reliable and well worth the ride.

Motor City label Upstairs Asylum celebrates its roots in 313 with this new Dance Detroit EP featuring a wealth of American house innovators. First up, Reggie Dokes and Steve Crawford join forces on 'Fear Of Failure', a house track steeped in Detroit soul. Martin Prather's 'Until' follows on with his stylish and soul-drenched grooves. Steve Crawford then goes it alone and turns up the drums on his potent 'Let You Go' (feat Tony B) and then get deeply emotional on 'Love Is Here' this time with help from featured artist Anthony Poteat. Prather and then label regular and Atlanta man Reggie Dokes closes down with his 'Not Ready.'

Norm Talley's Upstairs Asylum label only arrived in 2021 but is already up there with the great Motor City imprints. The boss has been busy putting together a trio of new EPs for the first half of 2023 that showcases a wealth of Mid-West talent. House hero Boo Williams kicks off this one with his typically tight drum programming and party-starting synth work on 'Tickin Clock.' Eric Johnson keeps it raw, deep and loopy on 'Melodic Gruv' then Reggie Dokes brings his signature Atlanta house sound to 'Mother's Child' with its melancholic lead sax and 'End of Time' is a broken beat bliss out.

Upstairs Asylum Recordings is one of the many seminal Detroit labels run by local legend Norm Talley. It's right in the middle of a busy run right now with no fewer superb run with three new EPs all dropping in quick succession. This one is a split EP with US duo Solid Gold Playaz taking care of the a-side. As always with this pair, their sounds are deep and dusty house with exquisite melodies tugging at the heart. On the flip, Gari Romalis steps up with the slick percussive skip of 'Detroit After Dark' then 'Panties' from Brian Neal brings jacked up analogue groves that lean into techno with a big fat bassline.

Limited to 100 copies. Multi coloured vinyl, various colour ways, the colour you will get is random. No Repress. No Reprint. 

Last seen on Discogs in 2017, the mysterious Marvyn Don returns with a full release of his old Lilac Road & Swag related EP from the early 2000’s, with four UK techno and tech house inspired rollers that are fit for any dark club or afters. This EP has been brought back to life with some exciting additions to the series coming later this year. Grab it whilst you can! Limited to 300 copies.

The project named after his own label brand presents four cuts ranging from cosmic quantum nervous compulsion to introspection. Harmonious combination of complex percussive rhythms gives way to the already identifiable sonic universe of 30drop that turns into an effective formula at any club aimed at the forefront of the electronic dance music. Sacred geometry and style, concept and form, all to the service of the fundamental search. The roots are deep and horizon is vast. >Superconductivity EP< extends the scope of 30drop positioning on the edge of the sideral dance floor.

Next up on Greek label Lower Parts is a fierce EP from the one and only DJ Stingray, who serves up one of his strongest releases in a while and, at the same time, marks his comeback with a bang. Featuring a remix by Athens talent Kon001, who Stingray has been meaning to release for years and who got personally handpicked by him for this assignment, the EP’s titles tell us of the Detroit man’s interest in science, biology and evolution and covers plenty of musical styles. Stingray has won plenty of acclaim with serious releases on labels like Naked Lunch, Bleep and Itinerant Dub. He wastes no time here in nailing down a nervy techno groove on ‘Acetylcholine’, with its hurried kicks, electro synths and slithering bass lines all racing along as you do the same. Dendrite is then a half time, lurching number with serious dub weight and serene synths that manages to be beautiful and brutal at the same time. On the flip, ‘eRbB4’ is a slick, journeying bit of electro-techno with real soul and emotion in its bones, before kon001 does Stingray proud with a dynamic, spangled remix that is metallic and reflective, groovy and evocative. This is a killer release from Stingray and is yet another fine offering from Lower Parts.