Detroit Beyond The First Wave

(Astralwerks)
by Joshua Brown

The city that produces the nation’s automobiles and brought us MC5, Motown, Funkadelic, and their respective family trees, is also credited with the conception of techno music in its modern form. As per usual, American rough ideas found their way over to Europe, where they were fleshed out and sold right back to us. Anyhow, the music on this compilation is subdued but insistent, it inspires neither frenzied dance nor a meditative chill-out session. It’s closer to astral soundtracks for an alien invasion followed by an interplanetary cocktail party atop a skyscraper. Most of the ten artists involved have been with Detroit techno since the early days, and are one man projects (or one woman in Kelli Hand’s case) who record under various names. Beyond the Third Wave isn’t an essential release, but then again, it’s unlikely to gather much dust if it does find its way into your collection.