Alan Oldham, aka DJ-T1000, needs little in the way of introduction when it comes to Detroit techno – as a producer, DJ, label head, visual artist and graphic designer, his influence runs deep through the culture’s DNA.
As the founder of Generator and Pure Sonik Records, Oldham helped define the Motor City’s ‘second wave’ of techno, touring worldwide with Underground Resistance, while his radio show, Fast Forward, was Detroit‘s first all-electronic programme.
Now based in Berlin, Oldham’s latest release is the Ghosthack EP, on Mind Medizin, which showcases the authentic, atmospheric sound he has long been associated with. It features four tracks, I Told ‘Em I Was From Detroit, Tracker, Heretic and Ghosthack, and can be downloaded/streamed here.
For this week’s #MyRecordBag, DJ T-1000 serves up his top ten Detroit cuts – exceptional choices from one of the masters of the genre.
X-313 – Cybernator (Generator)
“My first underground hit as a young producer and label owner. Inspired by the big European ‘rave’ tunes of the early 90s. That buzzsaw riff was the Akai AX60 hard at work, one of the first synths I ever bought.”
Red Planet – Star Dancer (Red Planet)
“Stone-cold classic to this day and permanently in my sets. Another Detroit answer to early ’90s Harthouse acid trance. Rumour has it that Red Planet was actually Mad Mike from UR, but I can neither confirm nor deny.”
Rhythim Is Rhythim – It Is What It Is (Transmat)
A staple on my late ’80s/early ’90s Detroit radio show, Fast Forward, and one of the tracks that introduced me to techno in the first place. Featured on the Techno: The New Dance Sound of Detroit comp on Virgin/10 (UK). I don’t get very emotional about electronic tracks, but this one holds a special place.
Model 500 – Think Quick (Moritz Von Oswald ’94 Remodel)(New Electronica)
“Loved this one from the very beginning. It came out on Tresor, but I first heard it on a New Electronica CD compilation way back in the day. I’ve been producing for 30 years and still can’t figure how Moritz made this track so spaced-out and hypnotic.”
Terrence Dixon – Early Space Pioneers (Tresor)
“Taken from his classic From The Far Future album on Tresor. I also licensed this track for my Sexy Adventures of Orietta St. Cloud comic soundtrack… check eBay. Pure sci-fi sounds from the master of repetition. I’m told this was made all on a Roland MC-303 Groovebox.”
Elektroids – Japanese Elecktronics (Warp)
“I’m a late convert to electro, but this cult classic helped get me hooked. Long rumoured to be a Drexciyan side project, but again, I can neither confirm or deny.”
DJ T-1000 – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Now Invisible (Pure Sonik)
“The second-to-last Pure Sonik vinyl release. I went all out on clear vinyl and a clear jacket, to suggest invisibility. The label copy was all in Japanese, to make it more mysterious, the days before Google Translate. This was also the second-to-last mastering job that Ron Murphy ever did for me. He sadly passed away soon after mastering Neutra. RIP to that great man. Nobody was more Detroit than him.”
Aux 88 – Electrotechno (Direct Beat)
“An early electro-jit classic from the legendary East Side Aux Men, taking up where Cybotron had left off – Juan Atkins was busy doing Model 500 at the time. I was super-late discovering this due to my then-bias towards 4/4 techno, but better late than never.”
Underground Resistance – The Final Frontier (UR)
“Another one that’s in my forever case. An all-time classic Detroit techno-electro sci-fi ghetto acid trip. I often close my sets with it and it’s still solid as ever. Mad Mike Banks is a genius who literally changed my life. I would not be here before you today as DJ T-1000 if not for him.”
DJ T-1000 – Three One Three (Avoidant)
“One of my very few forays into electro. I made a sketch of it and posted it on Instagram. I got a DM from Orde from Slam that same day asking me what I was going to do with the track. He wanted it for Soma’s electro sub-label, Avoidant, and a comp they were putting together. I quickly finished the track and delivered it. It actually led off the comp Planet Reborn. I was very honoured by this, as I don’t even consider myself an electro producer!”
Thanks to Alan for his selections. Keep up to date with his latest news and releases here. Photo by Laura Martinova.
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