Here’s another great Bandcamp phenomenon – digital reissues. And for a Detroit techno throwback, where better to start than this DJ T-1000/Generator remaster – and two big back catalogs, while we’re at it?
Step back in time to 1992.
DJ T-1000 aka Alan Oldham paired up with Ethan Nep Sevy (see also his band Code Industry) to form the label Generator. The result: an epic, delicious duo called TXC-1 (say it “toxic,” like Britney Spears). Alan was a key figure in the Submerge label orbit, as well known for his comic art and album cover designs as his music, but Generator matters, too – and Submerge did the pressings and distribution. (Image here, and at top – Alan’s artwork, to set the mood. Check more at alanoldham.com.)
It’s warm, groovy, perfectly economical stuff that’s full of heart. We’ve been following Alan’s exploits closely around these parts as he has settled into an ultra-productive period in Berlin. If you missed it, check out his excellent house EP from the fall, too:
But it’s great to have the history behind this, too. Generator Records has its own page, and Alan promises via Bandcamp that more reissues/remasters are on their way:
http://www.generatorrecords.com/
That’s the most recent reissue on my radar from Detroit, but there’s plenty more where that came from, particularly over the past year.
Don’t miss K-HAND aka Kelli Hand, whose work is so exhaustive and eclectic that Bandcamp recently gave her a well-deserved “lifetime” feature (thanks to writer John Morrison):
Lifetime Achievement: Kelli “K-HAND” Hand [Bandcamp Daily]
Bandcamp had reason to take notice – Kelli compiled a full discography’s worth of goodness, old and new, by putting up her Acacia label.
https://acacialabel.bandcamp.com/
It’s a rich mine of focused production chops and rhythmic invention, from house, techno, acid, and the outer worlds. Bandcamp gives you a decent map through all that terrain, but here’s one full release just to get you started – the diverse Detroit History Pt. 1. It’s a bit like what would happen if a well-curated “various artists” comp could be done by, you know, one person. I adore “Bongos”:
But then there’s also DJ Bone, for some banging-solid, irresistible tracks. Maestro Bone has put up a massive catalog of his own.
https://djbone313.bandcamp.com/
Where to start? I mean, part of why I’m not much of a music journalist is I get distracted listening. It’s Thursday night as I’m writing this. Here’s a track literally called “Thursday Night” that’s pretty sick. Done.
Oh yeah, listen to the end. The break… and then…
Listening should always be part of our diet. These days it seems “managing social media” is the task that threatens to gobble our time. But that’s why I love this – all this music is now accessible. You can pay for it and download it, and load it onto a device or take it to the studio and turn the Internet off and get away from streaming. And somewhere, your name and email pops up right on the artist’s screen to let them know you care.
And then we get back to why we do this, and what makes us not just better musicians and producers but happier humans – we can listen to tracks like these that make us feel something really good. And I hope music gives that cue to our brains and souls that feeling good is okay.
So when you read that you should know your Detroit electronic dance music roots, I mean … there’s a good reason to do it. Easiest. New year’s. Resolution. Ever.
Oh yeah, also – this track comes right after “Thursday Night” and – stay tuned shortly for some goodness from Japan, too, meaning we can strap in for the Detroit-Tokyo connection.
Previously: