Dreaming Detroit by Paul Hazel

Techno as a word and as a musical genre seems to have acquired rather negative connotations in the UK these days, most likely because we now associate it mainly with the hard, brutal, and relentlessly banging tracks coming from Germany, Belgium, and Holland. However, we should remember that Techno was born in Detroit, and it was a far funkier, jazzy, and melodic music than its European derivatives.

It is to this original tradition that Paul Hazel’s techno has always owed its allegiance. His 'Dreaming Detroit' EP pays explicit homage to the music’s birthplace whilst at the same time moving beyond it into a style entirely his own. As usual, the meticulous attention to detail ensures each track is crafted into a coherent and satisfying whole, with texture, dynamics, and internal space given as much attention as the driving and elastic rhythms.

Three of the tracks on 'Dreaming Detroit' were written with vocalist Natalia Farrán, and on them her cool vocals seem to float across and through the chattering beats. Two tracks also feature UK jazz trumpet virtuoso Steve Waterman to jaw-dropping effect: the flugelhorn solos on '1000 Miles Away' are glorious (particularly because highlighted against the totally synthetic backdrop). For aficionados the icing on the cake may be Paul’s own remix of his 1994 Rotation hit 'Test Pattern'. The main riff is instantly recognisable but the whole track has been slowed down: what was a thrilling futuristic headrush is now deep, soulful, techno-funk.

The tracks on this EP are Paul Hazel’s first new techno releases in nearly twenty years. Every effort has been made to create a product of the highest standard, including concept and cover art by artist Richard Cox that we’ve spread across a fabulous 6-panel digipack. Bamboo Radical is delighted to offer these superb tracks for immediate listening pleasure.