A new edition of ‘Vinyl Treasures’ takes us to Detroit. Deep Labs boss Luke Hess is a literal machine in the analogue studio and has been serving up fantastic deep, dub and Detroit techno fare for many years. He recently played a gorgeous vinyl set at ://about blank, which we have linked to you via the QR code (online: at the end of the article) below. For us, he digged through his vinyl collection and came up with three records that had a groundbreaking impact on his musical taste and career.
Robert Hood – Wandering Endlessly (M-Plant, 1996)
Wandering endlessly by Robert Hood was among the first four records that I ever purchased. The legendary Record Time (Dance Room) in Roseville, Michigan was a frequent stop for me – and at least once a week I would dig for records there. I started going to underground warehouse parties in Detroit in 1996 with my cousin and a couple other friends from high school. About one year later I was purchasing Records regularly on the weekends. I remember pulling this record from the M-Plant label section like it was yesterday and listening to it for the first time. I was mesmerized By how much emotion could be communicated with so few elements. That same day I purchased a couple “Dark Ages” EP’s on “Definitive records” and “Our Man From Havana” by “Jeff Mills”, a.k.a. “Purpose Maker”. Sidenote: I learned how to beat match using the Dark Ages records. I didn’t start recording DJ mixes on tapes until I perfected beat matching for a couple minutes at a time using these records.
UR – The Final Frontier (Underground Resistance, 1992)
A couple months after discovering Wandering Endlessly, I discovered “Final Frontier” – UR003. I started to research Detroit record labels and Artists more deeply. At the time record time had plenty of Underground Resistance records, Jeff Mills records, Robert Hood records, +8 Records, Definitive Records, KMS Records, Planet-e records, etc. Mike Huckaby was the purchaser and manager of the Dance Room during that time and he sure did a great job of providing the latest and best record with a keen ear of the Detroit sound, along with a lot of special finds from around the world. I remember the Dance Room being a little bit cutthroat at the time. If you were a new DJ, the special records would be reserved for heavily touring DJs or friends – so I was stuck with digging through the lowly peasant bins – although those bins today would be gold mines! UR003 was the first Underground Resistance record that I purchased. Obviously, it’s one of the best Underground Resistance records ever released, and I still play it to this day.
Aril Brikha – Groove La Chord (Fragile Records, 1998)
“Groove La Chord” by Aril Brika was the first Transmat Record that I ever purchased – along with Derrick May’s “INNOVATOR”. On the weekends, I would listen to 101.9 WDET. The radio station would broadcast live DJ mixes from Motor Lounge – a world famous club in Hamtramck / Detroit at the time. I remember taping a lot of these DJ sets on the weekends. I heard “Groove La Chord” in a DJ mix from Motor Lounge in 1998. The next day I went to Record Time and played the tape for Mike Huckaby and he handed me the record. Several years later, I saw Aril Brikha perform LIVE at Foran’s Irish Pub on Woodward in downtown Detroit. Soon after we became close friends and now whenever I visit Berlin I can count on great food and great conversation with this amazing maestro and wonderful human being.
His vinyl mix from :// about blank goes here: