A lot of the hardest-working DJs and most loving dancers are grounded now in the fight against the pandemic. But don’t let that mean you miss your workout. This is the EP we need right now.
Alan Oldham aka DJ T-1000 has been re-releasing tons of back catalog. But that doesn’t mean the new stuff isn’t fresh – techno roots, yes, but with your ass in gear right here and now.
In other words, “Body Signal” is just the music for the moment. It’s familiar without being overly nostalgic. This isn’t just about missing clubs. This has that Detroit urgency that makes you dance around right from when you put it on.
Everything is funky and banging, everything is clear and forward, even as it moves from acid to darker references, and it’s got a proper heaviness (mastered by Neptune Mastering)… That is, while other people can debate whether particular sound systems are euro-centric, here’s the way to make tracks equally at home in an underground US warehouse or one of those fancy better-known European sound systems. Alan’s tracks don’t sound like they’re already in Berghain, but you could play them basically anywhere – and he was slamming his own stuff just before lockdown, he tells us. Meanwhile, bring the party to yourself, wherever you are.
Oh yeah, and these are both hilarious:
“Don’t Let Drugs Screw Up Your Life” is another acid workout, and the answer track to FJAKK’s hit “Drugs,” which has been a favorite in DJ T-1000’s sets over the past couple of years.
The minimal bonus track “Phase Drama” closes it out. Oldham’s take on the old-school ’05-’06 mnml sound, but more funky and less boring, haha.
Here’s his DJ set for HÖR, too, to give you a feel for how we works these into sets:
Equally notable, Alan’s artwork is now in London – having made it there from Paris – as part of the exhibition “Electronic: From Kraftwerk to the Chemical Brothers” at Design Museum.
I’m really glad that Alan is here in Berlin, as I am glad to be here. One thing I’ve noticed left out of the conversation about the European-American relationship is the fact that some of us who have immigrated have found this country more caring, especially in the midst of this pandemic. A lot of the Detroit scene are back in the US, though, and times are really tough. Careers are stalled and the virus is all over the place. I hope we show some solidarity with all those people around the world – our friends, and our unknown brothers and sisters. It’s particularly hard to be musically creative while juggling a day job and anxiety around the virus. I appreciate everyone who’s keeping that up.
So also from that scene and still in my native country, please give a read to this interview with Kevin Kennedy aka FBK from Columbus, Ohio. And spread it around, too – Kevin is an amazing artist.
On the same note, I absolutely endorse this editorial, co-signed by none other than Kamala Harris:
Why grocery store workers deserve hazard pay [CNN]
A lot of artists are out there on the front lines of grocery stores (like FBK) and medical and other services (like a few producers I can think of), a lot more are unemployed, and we need to show some support for all of them. A music scene that only celebrates rich people and successful full-time artists (many of whom had to be rich to get there), is one that isn’t about music and isn’t humane.
End rant. Let’s get back to dancing – even at home.
DJ T-1000 is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, I think to warn us about the future or something.
Image at top: Big smiles at Movement Electronic Music Festival 2019. Photo by Jen Jeffery. Headphones by Pioneer DJ. — in Detroit, Michigan.