Music | The Detroit Techno House

Sometimes I like to really dig for my vinyl. I definitely frequent stores like Detroit Threads that specialize in electronic music records, where everything is neatly labeled so I can find exactly what I’m looking for. But every now and them I get super adventurous and decide to really dig the crates. This records was the spoils from one such crate digging adventure. Where would the world of modern electronic music be without the music of Kraftwerk? That’s not a world I want to live in. That’s why I was so pumped to find this track. “Pocket Calculator” is one of those tracks that you can listen to and hear how powerful of an influence it was on Detroit Techno, and all other forms of house and techno. The drums are very electro-ish and it has all those classic, super fat synth grooves that made Kraftwerk so famous. The synth sounds and glitched out calculator riffs are super spacey, and remind me of all the tripped out 70′s and 80′s cartoons I grew up watching. The flipside is the Japanese version of “Pocket Calculator” titled “Dentaku”. It’s pretty much the same track, slightly edited, with the song sung in Japanese. However the vocals sound all strange and robotic. Really an awesome version. While I doubt you’ll find this specific 7″, if you want a copy of this track, the full length record it came from in 1981 “Computer World” has been repressed recently, and you can find copies at Turntablelab.com.

Planet E is one of the most seminal and consistently producing labels in Detroit. Starting in the early 1990′s and stretching to today, Planet E has put out some of the hottest Detroit techno releases from both local legends and from those stretching around the world. Planet E label head and producer Carl Craig has long blessed us with a slew of fantastic releases on his own label under a myriad of aliases. Ever since I saw him perform live under his Paperclip People moniker at a rave in 1997, I have been a big fan of his work under all guises. So you can believe I was excited on Record Store Day to find a repress of one of the biggest tracks by Paperclip People, “Throw”! Plus this particular repress has a B-side of LCD Soundsystem covering “Throw”. Intriguing. When I got home and tossed on this album, I was transported back to my warehouse days. The first thing that gets me on this track is the simple but quickly addictive bass-line as the track slowly and subtly builds up. The basic old school synth stabs, the reverbed out, shrieking dance commands in the middle of the track followed by some playful filter work, this track is what Detroit dance music was all about in the 90′s. The flipside is a cover of this original track by the New York dance-punk band LCD Soundsystem. Normally, I’m a bit iffy about bands covering classic electronica, but this was spot on. James Murphy and crew nailed this track, while adding just enough of their own creativity to keep it fresh. I particularly love the strange, distorted guitar drones that last through most of the song. This track would fit perfectly into a slow house/nu disco type of set. Awesome. If nothing else, this album was worth it to me for the sheer nostalgic feeling I get for 14 minutes whenever I put it on. If you want a copy and live in the Detroit Area, there were still a few in stock at Detroit Threads last time I was there(unless there has been a run on Carl Craig vinyl). Oh yeah, and make sure to check out Carl Craig playing under his 69 pseudonym at this years Movement festival, you’ll be glad you did.