One of techno's true underground heroes, Function, real name Dave Sumner has been DJing and making music for over 15 years.

Hailing from New York, he was seduced by techno music when Jeff Mills held a residency at the Limelight in the early 90s. Dave started to produce music and from the mid-90s onwards, put out music on Damon Wild's Synewave and his own Infrastructure imprint.

Together with Karl O'Connor aka Regis he worked as Portion Reform, putting out uncompromising music on Downwards and becoming the only non-Birmingham producer to release on the label.

More recently, Dave moved to Berlin and, still working with O'Connor, set up the acclaimed Sandwell District imprint. Featuring releases by Regis/Kalon, Silent Servant, Female and Ian Richardson, the label is kicking against minimal blandness with dynamic, harder-edged yet curiously accessible techno. In particular, Function's own bleep-techno killer 'Isolation' and the old school-styled follow up, 'Anticipation' are some of the best releases of the past year. It's little wonder then that Sandwell was
recently featured as label of the month on Resident Advisor.