Reminiscing Part 3 – Elektro

As any techno lover knows (or should know) elektro played a huge part in the development of the techno genre. So here are a few modern classics which I played a lot in my DJ-sets.

Vitalic – La Rock 01

This track never diminishes in popularity, and for me, the EP never bores me.

Miss Kittin – Requiem For A Hit Featuring LA Williams

A hard, pounding Elektro beat, funny lyrics and an even funnier break with R&B added to the mix. This track was a huge hit among DJ’s and dance-floor-dwellers alike.

Next time in “Reminiscing“: Under the acid influence

Reminiscing Part 2 – Halfway between Latin & Elektro

So actually, this techno has more in common with Tech-house. But because of the tribal rhythms I’ll just stick with this post-name.

Adam Bayer – Remainings III

A Tech-House tribal hand drum combined with deep progressive synthesizer lines. This track always illustrates to me how much of a trance one can reach from listening to almost the same thing for minutes on end, while slowly progressing to an raw finish. In this case reached by a ever so slowly opening low-pass filter. This track wouldn’t look out of place in today’s minimal settings as well.

Midfield General – Coatnoise (Dave Clarke Remix)

In a way, a similar track to the previous one. Dave Clarke’s remix of Coatnoise (probably called that way for the sound of the modulated saw-wave) always gets people dancing and cheering. Is it the tribal rhythm or the synth-line? I guess it’s both. I already found this track on one of Dave Clarke’s compilations (World Service), but imagine the rush I felt when finding this one for cheap on a small record market in the center of Utrecht.

In the next installment of “Reminiscing“: Elektro

Reminiscing Part 1 – Latin Techno

In these posts I’ll go back in time and show some of my favorites from ye olde Techno. In this first part: Latin and Samba influenced Techno.

Andrew Mclauchlan – Love Story

I fell in love with this track the first time I heard it. In all it’s remixes and forms this track just makes your soul resonate to the latin grooves used in the song. I can’t believe how time has went by so fast, this track is already from 1998! In 2003, I was talking with DJ Alwin from Metro Recordstore and I asked him, “Do you have some classic, phat tracks I should listen to? I already checked-out all the new releases.” He said, take a listen to this one, I guess you’ll like it. When I put the needle to the groove I immediately heard it was a track I was searching for. In this case, it was the 2nd wave of remixes featuring a hard-techno version by Bryan Zentz. I tried to search for the original re-edit ever since but could not find it… Until I was in Osaka, September of this year (2009) with Lunemusique and びびんば..

I could not believe my eyes and ears! The original re-edit on Bush Records from 2000! And it was even for sale for a very good price.

Ben Sims – Manipulated

You can’t mention Latin-Techno without mentioning this track! Released on Primate Records, way back in 2000. The Adam Beyer remix just blows you away with a very recognizable sample. (Yet, who does this sample belong too?) Hearing this track at the Shockers parties from ID&T (2001, 2002?) through a PA large enough to fill a huge hall with sound, one fully understands the meaning of Techno. Such a shame ID&T killed the shockers concept by adding to much hardstyle and trance to the mix…

Monika Kruse – Latin Lovers

And last up in this post; Monika Kruse’s über-danceable Latin lovers from Terminal M. My favorite is still the Voodooamt remix, but I guess taste differs somewhat here and there.

In the next episode of my “reminiscing“ series: Halfway between Latin & Elektro.