Dustin Zahn

I find Dustin Zahn to be one of the most exciting names in the techno scene today. His pumping beats relegate those naysayers who have called for the death of techno into obscurity. While operating within a "minimalized" world, Zahn has refused to give up on that core element that, I too, find essential to techno: big bass, pumping, high octane beats. And not only has he refused to, he has succeeded in totally revitalizing the genre. Not to say that others aren't doing similar things, but his success rate and output is certainly astounding.

In many ways, his music is a natural extension of the earlier Swedish (and Detroit) techno sounds that many now decry as shallow, one-dimensional, and overly repetitive. Zahn fuses the varied and rich, tweaked samples and effects found in the music of today with seamlessly produced music that never loses the beat. It is a total synthesis of both banging and minimal techno. Expect twisted and warped sounds that will take you through extremely danceable journeys. Music that builds and builds, and then peaks and peaks.

Some of my personal favourites include everything on his (and partner Ian Lehman's) Enemy Records, his recent work on Drumcode and Truesoul, and the stellar remixes he prolifically creates, such as his own Zahn VIP remix of Analog God. I really look forward to seeing this young and most promising techno talent develop. And of course, I wrote this to War Cries and Moving the Chains!