Cybotron ‎– Alleys Of Your Mind

I love this record. It is perhaps the ultimate collision of Bernie Worrell, Junie Morrison, John Foxx and Ultravox. All I know is it is was funkier than "Mr. X" or "Herr X" by Ultravox, but it is pretty similar in patterns, basslines, lack of hi hats etc. Its biggest similarity to Shari Vari other than being from a Detroit party crew and being released in similar time is that the bassline usually only happens in the first half of the bar, leaving this great space, similar to the bass synth in Kano "I'm Ready".

"I came out with my first record in 1981. It was called 'Alleys Of Your Mind'. A totally electronic dance record. A hundred percent electronic. For that time, that was very unheard of, especially in the United States. I called this music techno music."

"Now I didn't really intend to actually do... to have a label. The only reason why I did it is because I submitted my music to like every record company that you can imagine, and got turned down by all of them, you know. So I said, you know, I believed in this music, so much that I decided to release it on my own. But because of the reluctance of the record companies, you know, to do anything, the label just got bigger and bigger with every release, until like my third release was like Technicolor man. The label was huge!"

"The first record that I ever bought was "Family affair" by Sly & The Family Stone. P-funk was one of my biggest influences. But Sly & The Family Stone influenced p-funk."

Three thoughts from Juan's mouth into our ears... ...and so history was created! Sharevari or not, who cares? Whether he came there first or not is irrelevant today. Time has proved Juan Atkins the true veteran and pioneer, and one day when history will write its pages, I'd be surprised if it doesn't quote the man himself. His high self esteem attitude and an unorthodox, innovative approach to music spawned a global musical revolution, which is still hatching results all over the globe to this present day.

Maybe this record won't be owned or loved by everyone, but this is one piece of music anyone into electronic sounds should carefully listen through at least twice. Remember: whatever electronic related style you may be into today, it most probably wouldn't be where it's at, and wouldn't sound the way it does if it wasn't for Juan Atkins and his genre and mind blurring vision of music. Much respect is due here!

One of the real mothers of Detroit Electro/Techno. 3 different pressings of this masterpiece exist, the whitel Label, the red/white Label and this full red Label one! My opinion is that this full red Label pressing is the rarest of all pressings. Also I must say that both tunes sounds better on this pressing, I don't know why! The best is to have all the 3 pressings ;-)
Peace
Fab

Fancy an argument anyone? imho THIS is the first techno track and not "Sharevari" by A Number of Names. Why? Sharivari sounds more like like weird disco; its lyrics aspire to trendy clothes brands, sports cars etc... yawn)- and that's just not techno imagery. Whereas "Cosmic Cars" is a one-off classic (try it at 33 instead of 45 rpm and you get a flowing freaked-out futuristic epic).
"Alleys..." is surprisingly new-wave(ish); the version on the "Enter" LP is sung straight, whereas this earlier 7" recording has a much more robo-heavy vocal delivery. 5/5