Robert Hood

I met Robert Hood only once when he played at Analog City in a warehouse/club behind Kings Cross in London in the mid 1990's. I remember even now, over a decade later, that we had a conversation after he finished his set about how his parents had influenced his interest in, and aproach to, music and life.

What a bloke, I thought, to have such talent and yet remain effortlessly genuine and unpretentious. At the risk of making a complete fool of myself I commented, as we parted company, that if he was ever in want of name for a track, as his series of untitled moveable parts releases on m-plant seemed to suggest, he might consider using "Wandering Aimlessly" which just about summed up the state of my life at the time. We shook hands and off he went into the night.

A few monts later, back in Newcastle, after buying on sight the new m-plant release [MP 306] I opened it at home I saw track B was titled "Wandering Endlesly". Maybe against the background of the club soundsystem he had misheard me, perhaps he refined and improved my suggestion, or maybe it was just mere coincidence. I don't suppose I will ever know. What matters is that the man left a lasting positive impression on me. Articulate, intelligent, principled and creative. The master builder. A supremely gifted artist and a gentleman.

I still listen to his records at home and appreciate the remarkably precise attention to detail and production standards, with compositions ranging from raw minimalist material to others that infuse warmth and emotion, but overall what stands out is the consistent quality of his work; no flat spots or low points. It would be fickle to pick out a few representative tracks. Just listen to what you can and decide for yourself.

There are a few artists that I get completist with, but not many with a catalogue as large as Robert Hood's. This man practically defines perfection within techno. His super-minimal approach is much imitated but rarely equalled. There's nobody else who remains so minimal yet so hard and powerful in their production.

One of the proudest and fiercest exponents of Detroit techno, his DJ sets are a beauty to behold; Playing only on Technics decks that have been modified to allow for up to +16% pitch control, he takes his own productions and those of similar artists to another level altogether, averaging 150bpm in an era when many non-hardcore techno DJs are slowing back down to house music tempos. Fast - yes. Hard - yes...yet the tight, clean production in the records he plays (which admittedly are largely his own) prevent it from becoming just another harsh, banging, noisy techno experience, and one finds oneself compelled to dance in a manner as unrelenting as the music he plays. Hold onto your mind, as the super-abstract analogue grooves tear strips off you.

Occasionally, he plays in a "semi-live" manner, using drum machines and analogue synths to add to the records he plays - making the performance truly unique. Those lucky enough to have heard him doing this will never forget it...mind blowing.

While he does occasionally take the odd jaunt into downbeat jazzy grooves, his more familiar productions are often hard to understand on first, second, or any number of listens, until you hear them in the context they are designed for - on a LOUD and CLEAR sound system!!! At that point, it's just best to give in and let the music take over.