The ten-track LP will release digitally on April 14th via Leisure System, an independent record label based in Berlin. The duo are known for exploring scientific and mathematical themes in their work (such as 2017’s Cellular Automata), and Neurotelepathy delves deeper into their precise sound. “[Dopplereffekt] continue to use live appearances to present experimental trials of theoretical models, and that effort is heard in the sizzle and swing of the percussive highlights here,” reads the album description.

Their first album, an EP titled Fascist State, was released in 1995. Drawing heavily from influential German supergroup Kraftwerk, Dopplereffekt is widely believed to be the brainchild of Gerald Donald. His wife, No Nhan Le Thi, is also thought to be a part of the project — although Donald refuses to confirm whether or not this is true. Instead, Dopplereffekt tracks are credited to a wide range of German pseudonyms such as Rufold Klorzeiger and Heinrich Mueller.

Alongside musician James Stinson, Donald was one half of the Afrofuturist techno duo Drexciya. Under this name, the two built a mythology surrounding an underwater race of humanoids called the “Drexciyans.” Their music was maritime themed, and they only played wearing masks. Stinson passed away in 2002 from heart complications.

Last fall saw the release of the Detroit ghettotech figurehead’s debut studio-length effort, Electro Beats For Freaks. On November 12th, he will follow it up with another longform work titled This Detroit Thing Of Ours [DB-103] via Databass.

The sophomore album follows a format similar to the first. Its 46 tracks transition seamlessly for continuous listening, exploring styles like ghettotech, ghetto house and electro. Featured artists Parkhouse, Goodmoney G100, Lil Mz 313 and King Saaidi return in This Detroit Thing Of Ours. The effort also includes collaborations with DJ Deeon, Missy and Gettoblaster.

As with Electro Beats For Freaks, DJ Godfather (real name Brian Jeffries) will follow up the release of This Detroit Thing Of Ours with a series of EPs. Each vinyl record will consist of a handful of tracks from the album in a format better suited for DJ sets.

Jeffries’ name comes up in conversations about ghettotech as often as artists like DJ Funk, DJ Assault, and the late Disco D. At only 18 years old, he cofounded Twilight 76 Records alongside DJ Dick and Brian Gillespie in 1994. Today, he runs the label Databass in his downtime from worldwide touring.

Find the album artwork and tracklist for DJ Godfather’s This Detroit Thing Of Ours below.

Among the names gracing the tracklist are key Detroit techno trailblazers Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Terrence Dixon, Robert Hood and Claude Young. Techno artists from across the pond such as Surgeon and Moritz von Oswald are featured as well, along with electro mainstays like Drexciya, Helena Hauff and DJ Stingray.

The Detroit-Berlin Connection

Tresor opened its doors in 1991 – following the demise of founder Dimitri Hegemann‘s Ufo Club, and shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall. It became not only a symbol of Germany’s reunification, but of the bond between its capital city and the electronic musicians of Detroit. The speaker system was fine tuned with DJs like Mills and Dixon in mind, and along with their contemporaries they became fixtures of the club.

Tresor Records was launched the same year, and it has provided a platform for innumerable artists over its 30-year lifetime. In addition to the aforementioned producers, Joey Beltram, Blake Baxter, Neil Landstrumm and The Advent have released on the label.

Preorder Tresor 30 on the club’s website and find the tracklist for the box set below.

The techno EP, out May 28th, comprises singles by Robert Hood, Ben Sims, James Ruskin and Mark Broom. June 25th marks the release of the electro EP, for which Carl Finlow, Detroit’s Filthiest, Freddy Fresh as Modulator, as well as The Advent and Zein Ferrara have offered up music. Closing out the series on July 30th is the house EP, whose tracklist includes songs by Eddie Fowlkes, Jon Dixon, DJ 3000, and Rico & Sonny.

Following the conclusion of EPM20, a compilation of the same name will arrive at an as yet unannounced time.

20 Years of EPM Music

EPM Music, the brainchild of Oliver Way and Jonas Stone, originally served as a booking agency and PR company. Over the years it expanded to include distribution, rights management, and record label services. Dekmantel, M-Plant, Avian and Hot Elephant Music are but a few of the labels they represent.

The 20-year anniversary EP series will be dedicated to the memory of Detroit techno DJ and producer Tim Baker, who passed away in early April. “EPM20 is dedicated to the memory of one of the most beautiful souls in the scene, Tim Baker who has been taken from us far too soon,” reads a press release. “Your music shines on.”

EPM20 will be available for purchase in vinyl format, with specially designed sleeves for the series. Find the tracklist for each installment below.

EPM21V / EPM90:

1. Robert Hood – Shadows
2. Ben Sims – Xotnuc
3. James Ruskin – There Was A Time
4. Mark Broom – The Three Swords

EPM22V / EPM91:

1. The Advent & Zein Ferreira – Strangeform
2. Carl Finlow – Optogenetic
3. Detroit’s Filthiest – Werewolf
4. Modulator aka Freddy Fresh – ProMars

EPM23V / EPM92:

1. Eddie Fowlkes – 1-2-3
2. Jon Dixon – Mack & Bewick
3. DJ 3000 – Summer 1995
4. Rico & Sonny – The Beat

The selection showcases more jit and footwork-oriented permutations of the DJ Godfather (real name Brian Jeffries) sound. The title track pairs Lil Mz 313‘s attitude-filled verses with upbeat bass and percussion, followed by an ode to Detroit jitters in the form of “King Of The Circle.” “Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself” falls closer to the electro end of the dance music spectrum, and “Certified Freak Hoe” featuring King Saadi, of which there are three versions, offers more straightforward ghettotech.

Jeffries first made a name for himself at only 18 by launching a record label called Twilight 76 Records alongside DJ Dick and Brian Gillespie. In the 26 years since, his name has been as closely tied to ghettotech – which has seen a recent resurgence due to Chicago’s footwork scene – as those of DJ Assault, DJ Funk, and the late Disco D.

In March, DJ Godfather will follow up the Keep My Name Out Your Mouth EP with the Up All Night EP.

Whereas the album comprised snippets of each song optimized for continuous playback, the Show Some Respect EP contains full versions of three entries to its tracklist: “Show Some Respect,” “Sunday Morning Spliff” and “These Strippers” featuring Dan Diamond. Also included is an instrumental version of the latter song.

“I made [Electro Beats for Freaks] a continuous mix on purpose,” said DJ Godfather (real name Brian Jeffries) of the album. “You can skip through the songs but the beginning and ends of the track mix into each other.  I did that so it will be harder for other DJs to play the tracks at first.  This album will be kind of like a sampler to DJs and a full album to non-DJs that just want to listen to the music.  For me, it was another way to get all of the attention from the tracks on one project.”

The Show Some Respect EP will be available in digital format via Databass on January 29th.

A glance at the Electro Beats For Freaks tracklist alone shows that DJ Godfather (real name Brian Jeffries) has carried on the rich traditions of the music he helped popularize. Eclectic as the songs themselves may be, common creative threads tie them together: stripped-down, minimalist beats designed for the more improvisational DJ with attitude-laden lyrics overhead. Emcees Parkhouse and Goodmoney G100 feature on numerous tracks, with King Saadi, Lil Mz 313 and Dan Diamond appearing more sparsely.

DJ Godfather Revisited

Alongside Detroit and Chicago artists like DJ Funk, DJ Assault, and the late Disco D, Jeffries was a seminal figure in the early years of ghettotech. The genre fuses elements of ghetto house, Miami bass and electro with the faster pace of Detroit techno. It died down somewhat following Disco D’s death in 2007 but has experienced a resurgence from the recent popularity of Chicago’s footwork scene.

At only 18, Jeffries launched a label called Twilight 76 Records in 1994 with the help of co-founders DJ Dick and Brian Gillespie. Databass started out as an imprint of Twilight 76, and Jeffries revived the label in 2018.

DJ Godfather will follow up his November album with a series of 2021 EPs that will include extended versions and other variations of tracks appearing on the album. Find the Electro Beats For Freaks tracklist below.