Electronic Generations comprises 17 tracks that started out as recordings of live hybrid sets from Cox’s Melbourne studio during lockdown. Each one has been remixed and reimagined in some way.

Accompanying the announcement is the effort’s lead single, a Nicole Moudaber collaboration called “How It Makes You Feel.” In a statement, Cox said he delivered a lighter version before Moudaber toughened up the concept.

“In today’s darkness of techno I wanted to create something more jovial,” said Cox. “So the original is quite an easy track to enjoy, it’s very bubbly and bouncy. But with this new version Nicole has made a very dark twisted reimagining. It’s now very much epic techno — which you have to play from beginning to end to get the full experience.”

Juan Atkins also remixed “Deep Space X” for the album; his version will arrive this summer. Fatboy Slim boasts a credit on Electronic Generations as well.

“As a live artist and a DJ, I get to play all over the world, and to see people enjoying the shared experience of being together and dancing,” Cox said. “I’ve pulled together all the elements that I’ve learned from watching those crowds, added my sound and tried to bring you a true electronic music experience.”

Find the tracklist for Electronic Generations by Carl Cox below.

01.  Electronic Generations (El Rancho Mix)
02. How It Makes You Feel
03. Our Time Will Come
04. Heads Up
05. Toys Out Of The Pram
06.  Bring It Back
07. Deep Space X
08. Lokma
09. Keep The Pressure On
10. Get After It
11. Line Lock
12. World Gone Mad
13. Speed Trials On Acid
14. Move The Crowd
15. Apollo Beings
16. See The Sun Rising
17. Electronic Generations Reprise

To support the U.K. nightlife sector, Cox spoke with Dr. Kishan Bodalia about how getting vaccinated will help nightclubs and venues stay open after the end of September. At that time, England will begin to require proof of full vaccination for entry into such establishments.

“My whole life existence over the last 30 years has been entertaining people in small clubs, in bars and wine bars and big clubs and festivals alike,” Cox told Bodalia. “What I do, it creates a gathering of people. So that’s what I’d like to see happen more than anything, that we can basically all be safe in knowing that we’re going out to party safe and enjoy ourselves.”

“We are in a pandemic,” he continued. “This is something that we are all trying to deal with and all trying to work on and what we don’t want is the clubs to not work. At the end of the day, we are all on the frontline now. So, it’s the only thing we can do to protect ourselves, to be able to enjoy our moments.”

As of now, there are no legal requirements for patrons to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon entry to nightclubs. Establishments like The Cause, Corsica Studios, and Pickle Factory have already begun to implement their own policies and safety measures to limit the spread of the virus, such as temperature checks or negative testing requirements.

A post to the TNT Instagram page denounced the backlash as a “totally unprecedented attack on our DJs,” arguing that the purpose of the initiative had been misunderstood. “There was never any mention of our DJs asking the public to pay our wages, only asking to support us,” read the post. “We are going through these difficult times together like everyone else.”

 

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What started out as a creative initiative for a close group of hard working tour management professionals within our beloved scene, to share our passion for music and to merely bring people something positive to keep us occupied in the crazy times we are all experiencing, has now manifested into a totally unprecedented attack on our DJ’s. Those DJ’s are our family on the road, our confidants and most importantly our closest friends. We work with them week in week out throughout the year and we support each other in everything we do. We asked each of our artists to provide us with an exclusive mix and also help us push the TNT project throughout their online channels which they did so without any hesitation. There was never any mention of our DJ’s asking the public to pay our wages, only asking to support us. We are going through these difficult times together like everyone else. We are absolutely saddened at what we are reading online about the DJ’s that bring so much joy and happiness to thousands around the world. This has been blown completely out of context. We as TM’s can hold our hands up and agree there were errors made with how this project was presented but this was not intentional and as we speak the situation is being resolved. TNT SOFA SESSIONS

A post shared by TNT (@tntsofasessions) on May 4, 2020 at 5:42pm PDT

Carl Cox, perhaps the most notable artist participating TNT, shared similar sentiments. “I have never seen anything blown so far out of proportion without context…” he wrote. “…There was no suggestion ever made that this was to cover ‘wages.’ That is simply ridiculous and I feel saddened that this has even been suggested.”

Alan Fitzpatrick wrote in his own statement that he was “asked by my TM to do a brief video, saying that this group of TM’s had done a bunch of DJ mixes to kill some time while at home.” He said he was under the impression donations would go to charitable causes and had not provided a mix of his own.

Arguably the most apologetic response has come from Joseph Capriati. Despite echoing that his support of the project had been “taken out of context,” he admitted that his “lack of attention” to the campaign had resulted in tone deaf messaging. “I want to apologize for my lack of attention in this and assure you that there was no intention of asking for the public to cover [my tour manager’s] wages,” he wrote. “I’ve always given him what he deserves and all the help needed especially in these critical times.”

Social media commentators have been quick to point out that the TNT artists’ response contradicts statements made in the early days of the campaign. On April 28th, Dubfire‘s tour manager, Tim Price, had told IQ Magazine, “Our goal is to release some new and interesting content to help with the #StayHome initiative and also try and gain some financial support for us tour managers during this unfortunate time, as most of us, if not all, are not paid a salary – we are paid per show.”

Although it is back online, no mixes are presently available on the Bandcamp page for Tour Managers Not Touring.

Each edition of TNT’s The Sofa Sessions would see mostly globetrotting techno/house DJs match a mix delivered by their tour manager. Carl Cox, Nicole Moudaber, Dubfire, Seth Troxler, Hito, Paco Osuna, Joseph Capriati, The Martinez Brothers, Carnage, and Alan Fitzpatrick participated in the series. The first installment came out on April 27th and comprised 27 podcasts totaling over 31 hours of music. Fans who donated €5 or more were granted access to all the recordings.

In a since-deleted video shared from the Stadium Artists Facebook page on Sunday, Askew criticized the aforementioned artists for requesting donations from the general public despite being among the richest DJs alive. “Why aren’t they covering their tour managers’ costs and giving these mixes away for free, or charging money and giving that money to the medical services, the NHS and every other country’s equivalent?” he pressed. “These are guys with multiple millions of pounds, euros, dollars in the bank, and they’re asking the general public to keep their tour managers afloat?”

 

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WTF IS GOING ON ???? ? SPEECHLESS … please God help them see the light!!! ??

A post shared by CASSY (@cassyofficial) on May 4, 2020 at 10:36am PDT

Askew’s video garnered nearly 40,000 views and 600 shares before it was taken down. A cursory search reveals that TNT’s Instagram account is no longer online, nor is the Bandcamp page on which the mixes had been hosted. None of the participating DJs have issued public statements on the matter, although Troxler wrote that his tour manager is “being taken care of” in an Instagram comment.

Turning Tide

The response to TNT highlights a bigger conversation around dance music during the COVID-19 pandemic – one in which tastemakers like Dave Clarke and DVS1 have been vocal.

In a post to his Facebook page, Clarke wrote that the economic fallout could bring with it a return to the electronic music community’s core values. “I am quite hopeful for this reset regarding the music scene,” reads a passage. Prior to that, he had remarked that Resident Advisor‘s “Save Our Scene” initiative should have been called “Save Our Hierarchy” during an interview for Serato’s “Keeping Busy” series.

DVS1 (real name Zak Khutoretski) echoed similar sentiments in an interview with fellow Minneapolis DJ and producer Steven Centrific for the latter’s live stream event, Distant Future. “I’m really hoping that this starts to grow local scenes again,” he said. “When clubs reopen, does anyone really need to book a headliner and spend a bunch of money? The reality is we have a lot of amazing locals in a lot of territories around the world who have never had a chance to shine, and those people will now be able to pack a club.”

Spokespeople on behalf of the aforementioned Tour Managers Not Touring participants have not responded to Selector‘s requests for comment at the time of writing.

For how few creative liberties either artist took, “Back 2 Jack” fits well within the context of Cox’s recent tech house discography. The source material’s nostalgic production values may have been lost to the update’s modern sound design and re-recorded vocal, but its central motif ultimately remains intact.

Full Circle

“Time To Jack” has symbolized a bond between Carl Cox and Chip E (real name Irwin Larry Eberhart II) since long before the track’s rework was a glimmer in either artist’s eye. Cox has cited it as the first acid house record he ever purchased, although early Detroit techno by the likes of Derrick May would shape his aesthetic during the years when he reached international stardom.

Eberhart refers to Cox as one of his best friends, and the two have toured together extensively. Cox founded Intec Digital in 1999, and following a four-year hiatus the label has also provided a platform for such household names as Umek, Boris and Frankie Bones.

“Back 2 Jack” by Carl Cox and Chip E arrived by way of Intec Digital on May 18th. Download both versions of the track via Beatport.

Source: Data Transmission