|
Tonight’s IHeartComix screening of The Electro Wars at LA’s retro-fabulous Vista Theater brought back a whole lot of memories from the salad days of 2007-2008, when it seemed the fierce and fuzzy club music known as electro was taking over the world. But it wasn’t all reflection and nostalgia. Here’s a few things we learned (or remembered) from watching the film.
|
The rains might have arrived in force for the third and final day of Movement 2010, but the occasional storms and persistent drizzle failed to wash away the party vibe the still strong masses were creating in Detroit’s Hart Plaza. Echoes of the final beats from techno originator Juan Atkins’ set with his iconic band Model 500 were still reverberating off the concrete as the tired, soggy crowd began to file out with another three days of intense bass and driving rhythms now in the rear view mirror.
Early afternoon thunderstorms temporarily silenced several stages, but everything was back up and running a few hours later, and after a bit of delay German electronic innovator Moritz Von Oswald and his Moritz Von Oswald Trio (who were actually a quartet) …
|
Those crazy kids over at Resident Advisor went and did the seemingly impossible, interviewing over 50 people to get the complete(ish) story of Detroit’s annual techno festival. They even talked to URB’s own Detroit native Joshua Glazer. From Carl Craig and Richie Hawtin to Paxahau and the Mayor of Detroit, it’s a serious read.
To explain the many twists and turns of the festival thus far, we turned to the people that were directly involved. Artists, promoters, city officials, journalists, more than 50 in all, presenting an oral history of Detroit’s electronic music festival. READ
| Mar | 10 |
|
Promoters Paxahau announced the nearly complete line-up for the 10th annual Movement Electronic Music Festival. Headliners for this year’s event—the fourth booked by Paxahau—is notable for it’s unique live performances by Detroit techno legends under various guises—Richie Hawtin (Plastikman), Model 500 (Juan Atkins) and Inner City (Inner CIty). What’s also notable is the absence of the more mainstream dance acts that Paxahau has invited in the past in an attempt to open up the festival to a wider audience. There is no sign of a Benny Bennaci, Moby or Deadmau5 type performer. The closest thing to a crossover might be DJ-A-Trak and Kid Sister, but 2010 clearly marks a return to the purist roots of the original DEMF.
Full line-up after the jump…
|
The electronic music world has heroes from the past spring up time and time again to reclaim their roles amongst the pantheon of legends that opened the floodgates to many fans and producers alike; and while we all know Detroit legends like Juan Atkins, Theo Parrish and Carl Craig, there are still some who prefer to be reclusive and stand behind their tracks instead of in front of them. One legend of that magnitude is Anthony Shakir, better known as “Shake” by many. Shakir started to work on electronic back in Detroit, his hometown, at Metroplex, the famed label of Juan Atkins. While he may say he was the janitor at that joint, he engineered some techno classics, which led to him wanting to make tunes. He did, quietly releasing 12-inches, but stayed reclusive all throughout the time of his releases. “Shake” makes it known to others that his music tastes are unbiased, that he will play anything that can make a dancefloor feel funky. Judging by the amount of people who consider him an influence internationally, it wouldn’t be hard to see how the world has accepted Shakir’s unusual takes on Detroit techno and has energized that same production into their tunes. With his compilation and retrospective Frictionalism: 1994-2009 coming out to the praises of the music world, it’s not hard to like Shakir’s audible vision of Detroit sounds and shapes. Inspiring the artists of past, present and future, “Shake” took some time to talk to us before his upcoming set at Unsound Festival NY, along with giving us an exclusive track to give to the masses.
Leave A Comment!