tracklist: A1. CHEZ DAMIER - UNTITLED, A2. TERRENCE DIXON - RETURN OF THE SPEAKER PEOPLE (KAUSTO'S SUDDEN APHASIA MIX), B1. ACHTERBAHN D'AMOUR - TRANCE ME UP (SKUDGE MIX), B2. DANIEL WANG - BERLIN SUNRISE
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tracklist: A1. CHEZ DAMIER - UNTITLED, A2. TERRENCE DIXON - RETURN OF THE SPEAKER PEOPLE (KAUSTO'S SUDDEN APHASIA MIX), B1. ACHTERBAHN D'AMOUR - TRANCE ME UP (SKUDGE MIX), B2. DANIEL WANG - BERLIN SUNRISE
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Sampler #3 from the Global Communication "Back In The Box" compilation album, the techno and ambient retrospective selected by Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard, back together again after a 15 year hiatus. Opening up this seriously hot four track EP is an ultra rare and often overlooked Carl Craig Remix of Yennek, AKA Kenny Larkin. Two Detroit pioneers collide on this beauty, with delicate oscillating keys gliding over a heavyweight breakbeat and clattering hats, a signature style of Carl's. The track really kicks in with the bassline and monumental pitch bending synth stabs. A real must have for anyone with a love for the original Detroit sound. Track two comes from UK's Matt Cogger AKA Neuropolotique, but recorded in Detroit for Juan Atkin's Interface label back in 1990. A track like no other, this is uncompromising stuff, and way ahead of its time. Crazy, distorted, tubular, plastic techno beats with big, big modular synth work. Not for the faint hearted! Out of Amsterdam, Maarten van der Vleuten was one of the wave of Dutch producers pioneering the sound alongside Detroit, British and German counterparts. Flux's "True Feelings" is a string-dominated squelch-funker with the DX100 synths trademark twangy bass wrapping around face slapping snares, claps and funky conga lines. Originally out on an R&S Records sub-label back in 1992. Wrapping up this essential release are the godfathers of the UK sound, 808 State. The tee-shirt used to say "on the sixth day, God created Manchester", but before that he must of created 808 State, who truly opened up UK ears to the techno sound. This track, lifted from their phenomenal album "90", is moody and sparse, with almost an Eastern feel to it's glacial melody and hypno-groove. More

Sampler #2 from the Global Communication "Back In The Box" compilation album, the techno and ambient retrospective selected by Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard, back together again after a 15 year hiatus. Techno's "The Innovator", Derrick May, laid down the foundations for the music in a very short time period, and has never gone back to production since, except for a few rare forays into the studio. This project, with Steve Hillage AKA System 7, was conceived in 1992, but the Mayday mix here was released in 2002. May's trademark frenetic and flanged 909 beats along with System 7's cosmic guitar work and monumental pads. An often overlooked track, this captures Derrick May at his best. Fellow Detroit pioneers, Octave One, are perhaps best remembered for the huge "Blackwater" single and the timeless "I Believe", but this rare cut from 1991, and released on Carl Craig's Retroactive label, was recorded under the guise Never On Sunday. Melancholic and uber deep, this is a fine example of the more intricate Detroit sounds from this era.
Speedy J's "De-Orbit" is one of the ever prevalent tracks from this era. Originally released on Richie Hawtin's Plus 8 label, and later featured on the legendary "Artificial Intelligence" album on Warp, "De-Orbit" is a downtempo mood piece, with gorgeous meleody and a slow churning breakbeat. Many DJs from this time, however, opted to play this track pitched up to 45rpm, creating an entirely new experience from the record, boarding on proto-jungle/breakbeat. Indeed, on the Back In The Box mix, the track is repitched to nearly 130bpm. Originally out in 1991.
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NRK Music's much revered retrospective compilation series, Back In The Box, returns this Spring with a double mix compiled and sequenced by one of electronic music's most enduring pairs. Not just Back In The Box, but back together, Global Communication, AKA Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard, reunite following a 15 year hiatus to lay down a collection of genre and era defining Techno and Electronica. Ahead of it's release, here's a very special vinyl sampler to kickstart the project. Shake AKA Anthony Shakir, is currently undergoing a renaissance with various reissues on the cult Dutch label Rush Hour. "Sonar 123" was recorded in 1990, initially releases on Juan Atkins Interface Records, and then picked up by the UK's Peacefrog Records in 1993 for release on the legendary "Various Artists - Sonar 123" EP that also featured tracks from Juan Atkins, Nuero Polotique and Reel By Reel. "Sonar 123" is so ahead of its time, relentless raw and bleepy Detroit techno, this track is often cited as one of the best in its genre. Across the pond in the UK, Balil AKA Ed Handley, was making futuristic breakbeat techno music, as well as making up one third of the original Black Dog trio, and also one half of Plaid. UK electronica was burgeoning with labels like Warp and Kirk Degiorgio's ART, who originally released "Nort Route" in 1991, to be re-released in later years by Carl Craig's Planet E and R&S Records. "Nort Route" is emotive and complex electronica, with it's soulful melody lines and pitch bending pads weaving through hard, industrial breakbeats. The third track on this, the first sampler to be taken from Global Communication's Back In The Box selection, is from one of the legendary Bellevue Three. Kevin "Reese" Saunderson is credited as one of the creators of techno, and certainly the one to enjoy the most commercial fame via his Inner City project. "Just Want Another Chance" though is classic "Reese", with snaking sub bass over hardcore 909 drumbeats and whispered vocals. The bassline here became the foundations for so many drum and bass records of the 90s, but techno and house music were afforded a classic, minimal jacking track from one of the masters. Originally out in 1988.
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