V/A - The Kings of Techno

The Kings of Techno is the sixth installment in a series which brings together globally renown DJ's & producers revealing their favorite tracks in the genre they have become best known for.

The Kings of albums allow compilers to make choices well beyond the usual restraints imposed on them. Each release features exclusive artwork from 60's Rolling Stones photographer & bon viveur extroadinaire Michael Joseph.
This album is not your average ' Techno' mix album, how could it be - it features two of Dance Music's most significant players over the last 15 years. Laurent Garnier's mix is subtitled "History Of Detroit" and sees the Paris based producer / DJ / label man looking towards the US for his inspiration. Carl Craig's mix "Influences & Developments" sees the Detroit based produceer /
DJ / label man looking towards Europe for his inspiration. The inherent dialogue that is created is a large part of the joy.
Laurent Garnier was one of the first Europeans to mix American House and techno music in Britain and he earned his crown in the glory days of the Manchester Hacienda in the late 80's.

Some tracks of his mix will be immediately recognizable as 'Techno' such as the obscure 'Just a Feeling' by Instinct
which is deeply evocative of lost weekends in the Haciendda, or the phenomenal Utopia by Jeff Mills which best defines the atmospheric sounds capes associated with the genre. But far from being strictly techno, Garnier's mix is an eclectic testimony on the influences of the genre and an obvious tribute to the town that saw its emergence. The great beauty of his mix is the layering of the many styles,traveling from Alice Coltrane, Aretha Franklin to The Stooges, from Motown's Temptations to Slum Village or futuristic hip-hop Anthem coming Dabrye and Jay Dee's collaboration on 'Game over'
Carl Craig grew up in Detroit; his diverse musical output has gained him fans from a broadband of music lovers. Considered as one of the main figures of electronic music, Craig has consistently DJ'd all over the world and not only witnessed the development of the genre but played a crucial role. His
productions have the rare distinction of being cited as cornerstones for the genre. Never replicatable always moving forward. His mix is rare for Craig in that it's a look back. It takes in music that mostly emanated from Europe. Like Laurent's, much of this falls easily into the non-'techno' category, Nitzer
Ebb's industrial bass heavy 'Join In The Chant' fits seamlessly with Capricorn's 'I Need Love' from defunct early 90's trance label 'Sperm' Records. Visage and Human League fit alongside Black Dog. Craig shows how much the sound of Detroit techno was influenced and inspired by Europe.

Expect the unexpected from these classic mix CDs, once again a genre defying double CD mixed to perfection taking us on a journey we will never want to return from. LAURENT GARNIER & CARL CRAIG are both available for interviews. CARL CRAIG will be touring in the US this fall. THE KINGS OF series has included - Joey Negro & Dimitri from Paris, Keb Darge & Rza, DJ Premier &
Mr Thing, Masters at Work (Louie Vega & Kenny Dope), Gilles Peterson & Jazzanova.