High Tech Soul: The Creation Of Techno Music

High Tech Soul by Gary Bredow is a look into the history of techno music, its creators and birthplace: the post-industrial city of Detroit, MI. The first full-length documentary to dig into the genre that popularised electronic music, High Tech Soul focuses on the pioneering musicians and their relationships. Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, and Juan Atkins are at the centre of the story but many others that contributed to the genre over the years are also interviewed. The story is contextualised with a short history of the city where it all happened, giving viewers an appreciation for an otherwise overlooked city. This is an awesome DVD presenting the history of a music whose pioneers are very much alive and active today. The production quality and flow of the story are top notch. One of the most striking aspects of this film is all the "smack talking” between the different people involved, which brings a very human aspect to an otherwise robotic genre. It’s funny to hear people dissing Richie Hawtin or Eddie Fowlkes, and interesting to get a perspective on the people behind the turntables and synthesisers. Those who are into electronic music but aren’t sure of its roots and early tracks will love this film for the soundtrack and history of the genre. (Plexifilm, www.plexifilm.com)