Just thought I'd add my two cents here and show a little respect for the man. You just have to admire a guy who stays true to the music the way Birken does, still using hardware and still pumping out lots of great music. I'll buy his records on sight because I've never been disappointed by doing so. I can't help but be proud that someone from my little corner of the world is such an innovator and stands tall as a shining example of what underground music should be. No compromise, no selling out, just doing it for the fucking love of it.
Paul Birken is the man in my book. Anything he creates is of Interest, simply because his music works are REAL. Yes indeed---Real synthesizers---Real Composition---Real Magic---Real Improv---Real Techno---. Paul Birken has a huge track record, and within the U.S.A. is considered an Underground Experimental Techno Legend. The best part is he's more in the game than ever. Producing highly cutting edge trax. So striking is the fact that his spectrum of electronic sounds are different than most. The sounds are: hard-edge, home-made, sonically rich patterns, worked by someone who really loves creating Bomb-ass dancefloor workouts. Paul Birkin is the REAL Deal Techno Innovator that takes the classic mid-west Hard-Techno banger style ride cymbol lump of coal, and shines it into a multi-faceted crystal clear diamond. My prediction is to look out for Mr. Birken because he's hotter than ever, and he's ripping sound systems currently with his Live Techno P.A.
Review by SebastianPrelarDec 17, 2005(edited over 3 years ago)
Definitly one of the true genuine underground techno militants outhere...and probably one of the most underrated too. His studio skills are outstanding, twisting and tweaking the sounds to the maximum level possible. -Much respect to one of the last real unerground activists in this corrupted money oriented techno scene-
Review by hts_shopMay 31, 2005(edited over 4 years ago)
Paul is one of my hero's and one of the last underground soldiers left. Several of his productions have been truely ground breaking in the realm of underground techno and a have shown me the real potential of what techno music can be. A master of minimal sound and arrangement, numerous releases he has completed appear to be timeless in 2005. The speaker freakin' and surfin' superior never fail to control the dance floor, ever.
Review by djfrankiebonesDec 11, 2004(edited over 5 years ago)
Paul is America's last great hope for underground techno. His associated works through Woody McBride's Communique imprint, made Paul a mid-west hero. His "Speaker Freaker" e.p. is one of the highest sort records by collectors and gets $100+ when available. The main cuts sample "Put Your Head In The Speaker, Come Closer" had a long life in the last days of the American scene. Paul still remains busy in the studio and has his own label Tonewrecker which is also worth mentioning. The first six releases, all excellent driving techno which defines the sound of mid-west techno, not Detroit, but North of Chicago.