From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

1. Quantum Collapse – Kumaras 4 [Apnea Records]

Eduardo De La Calle explores the more introspective, experimental side of his repertoire on “Kumaras 4.” It’s a warm, melodic IDM journey that rewards multiple listens.

2. Dubfire – Deadbug (Nadia Struiwigh Remix) [Sci+Tec]

Dutch hardware enthusiast Nadia Struiwigh turns “Deadbug” by Dubfire into a gritty, cinematic soundscape that treads a three-way tightrope between drum and bass, electronica, and techno.

3. BrandNewTrumpets – To You [Diffrent Music]

“To You” is a welcome return to Diffrent Music for BrandNewTrumpets. The rapidly rising star takes her sound into more cosmic, atmospheric territory while retaining the precise drum programming and heavy low end that characterize her music.

4. Qant – Blackest Night [KAVAL13]

Qant evokes the early days of dubstep, when it was basically a deeper and darker take on UK garage. Shuffling beats, dusty chords, and rugged bass stabs make “Blackest Night” mandatory listening for dubstep purists.

5. Regal86 – Kollekt [Self-Released]

Just one tune from an absolutely mammoth, 100-track release of previously unreleased music, “Kollekt” is subtle, lush breakbeat from Mexico’s Regal86.

6. Nebuchadnezzar – I dont think so [Self-Released]

Chaotic, up-tempo, and expansive bass music that manages to make minimalism sound brutal. Nebuchadnezzar completely throws convention out the window with “I dont think so” to brilliant effect.

7. Esc & Mineral – The Red Death [Straight Up Breakbeat]

Esc & Mineral balance heavy bass and breaks with heady, spacious pads to create an intricate, meditative jungle track with just the right amount of grit.

8. M​ø​ntero – Metal Flex [Illegal Alien Records]

Absolutely gnarly sounds drive “Metal Flex” by Møntero forward, with desiccated sine waves and glitchy bleeps weaving in and out of a grimy bass line and punchy drums.

9. Joakuim – Profondeur [Planet Rhythm]

Usually active in the drum and bass and jungle scene, Joakuim takes his flair for intricate arrangement, warm atmospheres, and rolling bass, and applies it to low-slung dub techno.

10. Lamin Fofana – Toco SOS [Self-Released]

“Toco SOS” is a slowly unfurling, percussive journey from Lamin Fofana that reaches a jubilant climax with forlorn vocal chants, bubbling synth sequences, and interesting field recordings.

11. JK Flesh – PI11.1 [Pi Electronics]

Justin K. Broadrick continues his adventures into electronic music with “PI11.1,” a distorted, scratchy rhythm that pays tribute to his roots in industrial and metal music while spiraling even further down the rabbit hole of abstract sound design and synthesis.

12. G​ö​cke & Anniverse – ACGTU (Luigi Tozzi Remix) [Aedi Records]

The already hypnotic “ACGTU” gets a remix from Luigi Tozzi. The Italian maestro turns it into a psychedelic, ambient techno trip that’s equally effective late at night on a big sound system as it is playing through headphones at the afters.

13. Mark Williams – Subliminal Fragment [N&N Records]

Legendary hardgroove producer Mark Williams is on a roll lately, returning from an eight-year hiatus to drop rolling, percussive grooves like he never even left. “Subliminal Fragment” is quintessential Williams: funky, tough and full of clever sample manipulation.

14. Jeff Mills – Methane Bubbles [Axis]

“Methane Bubbles” is the kind of jazzy, cosmic, soulful house music with a touch of techno flair that only Jeff Mills knows how to make.

15. Minimalphunk Featuring Juliane – unless sweet [Area Code 221]

A beautiful leftfield electronica piece, “unless sweet” was originally commissioned for a performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which unfortunately never went ahead. The track ended up on an obscure chillout compilation released at the turn of the millennium. Minimalphunk has recently uncovered the track, uploading it to his Bandcamp for a new generation to experience.

From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

1. Deepchild – Music For Ecstasy [Seppuku Records]

“Music For Ecstasy” sees Australian producer Deepchild pay homage to one of his home country’s most celebrated venues, Club 77. It’s a deep, lush techno roller that slowly unfurls across its nearly ten-minute runtime, layering reverbed vocal shots with warm pads and tight drums.

2. Baby T – Free Thinking She Punk [Banshee]

Baby T has launched her new label with a huge statement of intent in the form of “Free Thinking She Punk.” Abrasive, gnarly breakbeat centered around distorted TR-909 kicks, chopped-up amen breaks, and classic sound clash effects define this track.

3. Bawrut – Azadi [Ransom Note Records]

Man meets machine in “Azadi,” a delightfully weird electro-tech workout. Bawrut combines Arabic vocal refrains with European neo-trance stabs, wonky effects, and classic drum machine grooves.

4. The Trip – A Bit Spooky [Tessellate]

“A Bit Spooky” could easily be a lost progressive house cut from the mid ’90s for how accurately it captures that era’s aesthetic. The Trip layer cheeky vocal loops over punchy drums, a funky bass line, and uplifting synth stabs before dropping into a breakdown and coming out the other side of it with squelchy acid sequences added to the groove.

5. Das Komplex – Wanna Do It [20/20 Vision]

If Crazy P select your track for inclusion in their Crazy P Curate Series, you are obviously doing something right. “Wanna Do It” is Polish artist Das Komplex doing what he does best: creating a chugging, tripped-out cosmic groove that has touches of soulful, melodic flair.

6. Millsart – The Wise One (Khufu Mix) [Axis]

Nobody can question Jeff Mills‘ credentials when it comes to dance floor-obliterating techno bombs, but many often overlook his ability to create intelligent, densely layered sonic stories that are as conceptual as they are danceable. “The Wise One” (Khufu Mix) is one such piece of music. This winding, percussive trip combines sci-fi weirdness with pulsing, organic rhythms.

7. v0ll – Blender [Self-Released]

v0ll takes us on a deconstructed, meditative journey that touches on elements of techno, dub, and electronica with “Blender.” This one is for people who like their techno on a more challenging tip.

8. Amotik – Tihatar [Amotik]

“Tihatar” is the kind of track that is impossible to classify. Amotik delivers driving, emotive minimalism that manages to be both euphoric and melancholy thanks to a unique combination of stripped-down drums and massive, dreamy pads.

9. Epsilon – Goddamned Soul [Bloody Fist Records]

Legendary Australian label Bloody First Records has been steadily rereleasing their back catalogue via Bandcamp for the last couple of years, and finally “Goddamned Soul” is here. Epsilon‘s gnarly, cut-up, heavily distorted breaks, huge bass growls, and strange sample manipulation are perfectly at home on one of the most absurd record labels to ever exist. Finally, a whole new generation get to enjoy it (or not).

10. T5UMUT5UMU – Troop Of Apes [Self-Released]

“Troop of Apes” is quirky, uptempo tribal bass music from Japan’s T5UMUT5UMU. East meets West in an off-kilter blend of ragga vocals, effects, dub horns, and rapid-fire percussion.

From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

1. Toumba – Rashash [Nervous Horizon]

Toumba draws on his Jordanian heritage with “Rashash,” a contemporary club banger that blends traditional Arabic percussion with rapid-fire kicks and gnarly drones. Nervous Horizon is the perfect home for this kind of forward-thinking, experimental bass music.

2. Dennis Quin – Temptation [Dennis Quin]

The title track from the Temptation EP sees Dennis Quin returning to his self-titled imprint with a classy slice of uplifting house. A bouncy, ’90s-style bass line and swinging beats lead the way, complemented by fluttering pianos, classic rave stabs, and a catchy vocal sample.

3. Trunkline – Overlaps (Sterac Remix) [Arkham Audio]

Dutch techno legend Steve Rachmad dons his Sterac alias to remix “Overlaps” in his inimitable style. Rachmad strips down the drums and adds dusty dub chord sequences that slowly build and release tension as they wash in and out of the mix.

4. Jeff Mills – The Other Maria [Axis]

“The Other Maria” sees Jeff Mills heading deeper down the rabbit hole of leftfield, experimental techno, adding touches of cinematic sound design to his now signature sci-fi flavor.

5. Sully, Coco Bryce, Dwarde and Tim Reaper – Synergy [Future Retro London]

Four absolute powerhouses of the contemporary jungle scene team up on the aptly-titled “Synergy.” Sully, Coco Bryce, Dwarde, and Tim Reaper each bring their production strengths to a collaboration that is more than the sum of its parts. Roughneck breaks, sub-rattling bass, and trippy synths conjure images of hazy warehouses in the mid 90’s.

6. Radio Slave – Strobe Queen (Kirk Degiorgio Remix) [Rekids]

The already lush and uplifting “Strobe Queen” heads into full-on Balearic territory thanks to Kirk Degiorgio. The tempo gets lowered, and the strings and pianos of Radio Slave‘s original are replaced by reverbed acid licks, soaring pads, twinkling synths, and a warm, fuzzy bassline.

7. JC Laurent – Chemical Clouds [Cielo Records]

JC Laurent gets deep with a heady, minimal and percussive soundscape that draws influences from techno, drum and bass, and ambient. Despite its stripped-down aesthetic, “Chemical Clouds” is a thunderous track that will do serious damage when played through a big sound system.

8. Loleatta Holloway – Crash Goes Love (Jaymie Silk Remix) [Jaymie Silk]

Disco luminary Loleatta Holloway is the latest to get the Jaymie Silk edit treatment. Her powerful, catchy vocals from “Crash Goes Love” get layered over chunky kicks, rolling bass, and chopped-up tribal loops.

9. Sanguine – If You Know [Pure Space]

“If You Know” is a slowly-evolving, spaced-out tribal techno journey in which Sanguine seamlessly combines warm, subtle melodies with precise drum programming and booming low end. One of many highlights from Pure Space’s latest compilation in the Proximity series.

10. Rebecca Goldberg – Automated (Mark Broom Remix) [Phoq U Phonogrammen]

Straight-up hardgroove goodness from one of the pioneers of the sound. Mark Broom adds some thumping TR-909 patterns and rolling sub bass to “Automated” while retaining the hypnotic synth sequences from Rebecca Goldberg‘s original mix, cleverly combining elements of both U.K. and Detroit techno.

From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

1. Arcane and Jon1st – Honey Dew [Defrostatica]

Bristol-based producer, multi-instrumentalist and breakbeat aficionado Arcane teams up with world champion turntablist and live act Jon1st for a high-octane, choppy footwork/jungle hybrid. Deadly breaks, big bass growls, and cheeky vocal stabs make “Honey Dew” a must-have for fans of 160bpm music.

2. Ruff Stuff – Growler [Ruff Stuff Music LTD]

Delightful deep house from Ruff Stuff on his homonymous label, which sees the producer flirting with higher tempos while retaining his trademark warmth and funk. “Growler” is propelled by a bouncy acid sequence and chunky drums, with lush, sparkling pads and strings adding a soulful edge to the proceedings.

3. Musta – Where Is Juanito [Fulltime Production]

Taken from his album Tamburi Parlanti, “Where Is Juanito” sees Musta leaning heavily on Afro-funk influences to create a rolling, hypnotic, and percussive house groove. Focused primarily around an ever-evolving live conga rhythm peppered with washes of reverb and subtle bass stabs, it evokes images of folkloric, primal rituals.

4. Jeff Mills – The Storyteller [Axis Records]

Detroit techno mainstay Jeff Mills has nothing left to prove at this point, but that doesn’t stop him from continuously pushing sonic boundaries. “The Storyteller” is a heady techno trip that ratchets up the tension with swirling, eerie pads, delayed sine sequences, and crisp drums.

5. Henzo – Survivorship Bias [Nervous Horizon]

Henzo wraps up a stellar 2022 with a chugging, sludge-drenched bang. “Survivorship Bias” is a crunchy half-time rhythm that takes influences from dancehall, techno, and drum and bass, mixing dusty vocal loops with wobbly bass and a dissociative break.

6. Umbo – Foolin’ Around [Timewarp Music]

“Foolin’ Around” is raw, hard-hitting contemporary funk from Croation duo Umbo. Rugged freestyle drum breaks, an infectious bass line, and a vibrant sax solo take center stage for the track’s peak, while feelgood keys and guitar plucks keep the vibes high during the bridge.

7. Dre – Eastwood [Music For Change]

Andreas. dons his alter ego Dre for some spacious and atmospheric, dub-infused electronica. Recorded on tape to add a little extra warmth, “Eastwood” is perfect for lazy afternoons with headphones on and eyes closed.

8. Simone de Kunovich – Primal Dream [Mule Musiq]

A highlight from the final installment of his Mondo Nuovo series, “Primal Dream” sees Simone de Kunovich crafting a percussive organic house jam out of warped drum grooves, distorted animal calls, and wobbly effects. Kunovich is heavily inspired by a love of exploitation and arthouse films, and it shows: This could easily be from the soundtrack of an experimental film set in a dangerous and unfamiliar rainforest.

9. Ranjit Nijjer – Mission Briefing [Machine Label]

Ranjit Nijjer explores the deeper, more stripped-down end of the techno continuum on “Mission Briefing.” The single blends precise percussive grooves with a subtle, funky bass line, echoed sci-fi vocals, and synthetic bleeps and bloops.

10. Franco Alesso – Blue Nebula [trau-ma]

Fast-paced, funky, and full of attitude, “Blue Nebula” is hardgroove techno at its finest. Franco Alesso combines tough, rolling drums with jazzy chords and sultry female vocal stabs for maximum dance floor effectiveness.

“The focus of this project and presentation examines the art of mental persuasion and how the mind can control as well as fall vulnerable to subservient ways,” Mills said of the album, according to a press release. “It allows the means to look creatively and more in-depth to a subject that applies to every person and at every stage of life because how we perceive or sense something is part of our evolutionary survival pattern.”

Mills statement continues: “Because there is no exact mental compatibility between any of us, speculation and misconceptions are not exemplary, so an emphasis on ‘the presentation of facts, ideas and methods and what we knew as true by example’ are the major points that drives the overall purpose of this album project.”

Jeff Mills – Mind Power Mind Control from AxisRecords on Vimeo.

The music itself encompasses a diverse range of rhythms, tempos, and textures without abandoning Mills’ experimental yet somehow familiar take on techno. Film score samples give way to tones reminiscent of Indonesian gamelan ensembles in “Scarlet,” whereas a syncopated beat creeps along to set a suspenseful ambience in “Hatsumi.” “Transmutation” comprises warbling, soft-edged synths juxtaposed with heavy bass stabs and no percussion to speak of. The digital release includes two bonus tracks: the vaguely orchestral “Radiance” and “Units.”

Few artists have contributed as much to the subtle mystique of techno as Jeff Mills. Originally a hip-hop DJ known as “The Wizard” for his sets on Detroit radio station WDRQ, he produced music as one half of the industrial duo Final Cut before making a name for himself globally as one of the cofounders of Underground Resistance. The group posed incisive social commentary on predatory music industry practices with the broader mission of paving a path forward for young, Black men.

In November of last year, Mills found himself on the receiving end of industry critique. Along with techno superstars like Amelie Lens, Carl Cox, and Sven Väth, he appeared on the lineup of a Saudi Arabian festival called MDL Beast. Human Rights Watch called the gathering a “reputation-launder scheme” and encouraged artists to speak against the Saudi government’s human rights abuses or not participate.

Mills defended his appearance in a subsequent statement. “…We never know who might be there in the audience, listening, and trying to connect with something greater than ourselves [sic],” he wrote. “This music needs to be accessible to anyone and everywhere!”

Jeff Mills also recently closed out the main stage of Movement Electronic Music Festival 2022 on the final day. Read Selector’s full review of the three-day gathering here, and purchase Mind Power Mind Control in digital or double 12-inch vinyl record format on the Axis Records website.

1. DJ Emerson – Patterns of Force [Micro.Fon]

Taken from DJ Emerson‘s follow-up album to 2016’s Repetitive Music, this sample-heavy techno track strikes the right balance between funk and crunch. A driving, groovy bass line propels it forward while catchy samples, warm synth stabs, and infectious percussion add a touch of subtlety.

2. Radio Zahn – Twilo (Extended) [Rekids]

Masters of the heads-down, eyes-closed groove Radio Slave and Dustin Zahn team up on this ode to the legendary New York house club of its namesake. “Twilo” is a ten-minute ride through chunky drums, rumbling bass, grainy dub chords, and soulful vocals that reward the patient listener with a huge payoff in its final third.

3. Sub Filla – All Sound Boys Dead [//Darkmode]

Tracks like “All Sound Boys Dead” are what dubstep fans mean when they say “proper dubstep.” Sub Filla concocts a heady blend of dusty, reverb-soaked drums, cone-rattling bass growls, and downtuned vocal samples for the heads.

4. Jeff Mills – Horizons

Detroit’s ambassador to outer space Jeff Mills explores his more experimental side on “Horizons,” a chuggy, meditative, and slightly sinister soundscape. Loose, swaying drums create a hypnotic, rhythmic pulse while layers of gnarly pads and washed-out effects build tension.

5. Orca – Intellect VIP [Deep Jungle]

Deep Jungle continue their mission to unearth forgotten gems from the golden era of jungle, this time giving Orca‘s previously unreleased VIP of “Intellect” a much-needed official release and remaster. This is quintessential ’90s jungle: rapid-fire amen breaks, swirling synths, and huge sub bass stabs.

6. Uun – Terrain Vague [Ego Death]

Broken beat techno at its finest. Built around an incessant groove comprised of squelchy sine waves, snappy TR-909 beats, and swirling effects, “Terrain Vague” showcases Uun‘s firm understanding of the balance between intensity and detail.

7. Konduku – Gelgit [Nous’klaer Audio]

Netherlands-born, Berlin-based Konduku has an uncanny ability to write music in multiple genres without losing the core essence of his sound: organic, tribal rhythms and subtle melodies. “Gelgit” takes these elements and places them within the framework of a deep, ever-evolving techno cut that works equally well on a dance floor or at home.

8. Not A Headliner – The Endless Hour [Hemisferio Records]

“The Endless Hour” is pure, unfiltered melodic techno. Use this track as your benchmark for the genre. Taking inspiration from the late ’90s and early 2000s, Not A Headliner combines driving percussion with lush strings, catchy chord loops, and mechanical blips and bloops to create a track that pays homage to the past while looking forward to the future.

9. Sam Link – Hesitate [YUKU]

Wonky, off-kilter footwork meets choppy, grimy jungle in this raucous dance floor burner. Chinstrokers will have hours of entertainment figuring out all the different breaks Sam Link used for the drums on “Hesitate,” while speaker-freakers will love how the huge, distorted bass stabs pack a serious punch.

10. Aroent – Say [Infinite Machine]

Aroent delivers a slice of absolutely deadly breakbeat with a touch of dark garage and IDM added for good measure. Watch out for the classic vocal sample during the breakdown and the absurd, glitchy edits that chew up and spit out the drums after the drop.

1. Jeff Mills & The Zanza 22 – Cause & Effect [Axis Records]

Detroit icon Jeff Mills explores his love of jazz, funk and contemporary orchestral music through the lens of techno and machine music in this heady, laid-back piece. Sparkling pads swirl around ever-evolving organ sequences, while low-slung TR-909 drum loops keep things moving consistently.

2. Karmel Jäger – I Like Unresolved Tension (Milenze Remix) [Extra Spicy]

Chaotic, thunderous electro beats collide with rapid-fire rave stabs and vocal hits for maximum dance floor destruction in Milenze‘s remix of “I Like Unresolved Tension” by Karmel Jäger. It’s part breakbeat, part ghetto tech, part electro, all energy.

3. Juan Sanchez – Rapax [Newrhythmic Records]

This is one of those grooves that could go on forever, and it would never get boring. Juan Sanchez delivers a propulsive, hypnotic techno tune that combines crunchy, grinding percussion with spacey, otherworldly effects which slowly twist and morph over the course of the track.

4. INVT – Hasta Que No Pueda Mas [INVT]

Miami duo INVT continue their adventures in connecting the dots between different genres and vibes, this time mixing elements from tribal house, techno, and Baile funk. The result is a chunky percussive jam that doesn’t skimp on the funk.

5. Myledo – Crack A Freshy [Music For Change]

Footwork meets jungle in “Crack A Freshy” by Myledo, combining the best bits of both into a high-energy, bouncy, and bass-heavy cut full of chopped-up vocal samples, booming sub bass hits, and quirky breaks.

6. Hüda – Sun Resistance [Companion]

Hüda delivers a beautiful, warm journey through the outer realms of drum and bass. Lush, spine-tingling chords float above warm, vibrant bass and subtle, unobtrusive drums, creating a pleasant journey for the senses.

7. Greazus – WTF [Defrostatica Records]

The Canadian duo HxdB and Patrik Cure mix elements of electro, techno, and breakbeat into a blistering, squelchy acid banger. Twisted vocal snippets and growling sub bass sequences add a layer of tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

8. Hannd – Eardrum Rattle [Common Ancestors]

The psychedelic, spacious, and meditative sound of classic tech and progressive house is back in full force right now. Hannd‘s loving nod to it is as close as you’ll get to the feeling of being on the dance floor of the end at the turn of the millennium.

9. Snarexx – Funk Connection [Philthtrax]

Sometimes all you need is some snappy 808 beats, a bouncy 303 bass line, and wobbly synths to have a party. While contemporary electro mostly focuses on harder, darker sounds, “Funk Connection” by Snarexx takes it back to the genre’s early days where mechanical rhythms were blended with the low-slung funk of hip-hop and b-boy breaks.

10. Rewx – 909 [Subsist]

Deep, soulful, and atmospheric breakbeat with a melancholy edge by Rewx. The mellow, soulful chords and subtle bass line contrast intriguingly with the introspective spoken word vocal samples.

MDL Beast Soundstorm, as this year’s edition is billed, takes place from December 16th-19th and has swelled to include over 50 artists in its first headliner announcement. Returning are EDM superstars like Martin Garrix, David Guetta and Tiësto in addition to local talent such as Cosmicat, Dish Dash and Vinyl Mode.

The festival has noticeably expanded its techno and house offerings as well. The first phase announcement alone features Adam Beyer, Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Eric Prydz, Amelie Lens, Dubfire, Sven Väth and Paul Kalkbrenner among numerous others.

Incidentally, it is the house and techno fandom that has levied the most criticism of out-of-town artists performing at this year’s event.

Berlin-based CTM Festival curator Michail Stangl started the conversation on Twitter. “Sure there is no objective morality and all, but if you like money so much that you take it from a government that kills journalists and has the death penalty for being gay, you really should ask yourself some serious questions,” he wrote.

Expected this from many of the people on this list, but its actually really crazy to see some other names here from whom I strangely enough expected better. Much better.

— Michail / opiumhum.eth ?️‍??Ⓥ (@opiumhum) November 16, 2021

A number of social media commentators expressed shock that Detroit techno figurehead Jeff Mills would involve himself with an event such as MDL Beast (pronounced “middle beast”). The DJ, producer and Underground Resistance cofounder played no trivial role in the social justice side of electronic music, after all.

“With most of the business techno dummies out there, it doesn’t surprise me. But Sven and Jeff?” wrote Berlin artist Oliver Deutschmann on Facebook. “What is wrong with you guys? Next time at a Taliban private party if the price is right, then? Or maybe a Vatican City after hours?”

“Well all of those DJs suck, but Jeff Mills?” wrote another commentator. “A father of techno music and culture? What happened to him? Does he really need Saudi blood money? Is it really necessary for him?”

Influencer-Washing

MDL Beast is funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Those criticizing the aforementioned artists argue that they participate in something more harmful than simple business with an authoritarian government, though. They find them complicit in a campaign to shift the world’s focus away from atrocities committed by Saudi lawmakers.

On top of the Saudi government’s long track record of human rights violations such as arbitrary arrests, beheadings, and the outlawing of feminism was the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. According to The Guardian, outcry over the incident prompted the country’s rulers to invest billions into efforts to rehabilitate its image.

Among them were influencer marketing campaigns designed to frame the country as a tourist destination in exchange for six-figure sums per The Verge. The General Entertainment Authority also financed large-scale live music events that paid artists up to six times their regular booking rates. One such artist was rapper Nicki Minaj, who pulled out of a July 2019 gig following an open letter by the Human Rights Foundation.

The MDL Beast Soundstorm 2021 headliners are not alone in facing recent backlash for accepting what many have deemed “blood money.” Billboard reports that earlier in November, the Human Rights Foundation called upon Justin Bieber to cancel his December 5th performance at the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Saudi government shows no indication of slowing down in its events industry foray, however. Shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in 2020, the Saudi government bought $500 million in Live Nation stock that had appreciated to over $1 billion (a 5.7% stake in the company) by February 2021.

Let the People Dance

On the opposite end of the spectrum is an argument that the Saudi people shouldn’t be denied music simply because of their authoritarian government.

“Change happens through shared experience. [The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] will not enter the 21st century if they are blocked out of western culture,” one social media commentator wrote. “Yes, bad shit happens there and will continue to, with or without this event. There is more chance for change through engagement than boycott.”

Jeff Mills defended his decision by making an analogy in a social media comment of his own.

“In 1979, a German band called Kraftwerk were invited to Detroit to perform at a venue on the east side of the city,” he wrote. “There was a huge uproar and protest before and upon their arrival. Many people recognized the military-like uniformity; red shirts with black neckties were connected to Neo Nazis and the extreme right.”

He continued: “Luckily they performed because if the protestors had won their way, there would not have been a young, impressionable Juan Atkins in that audience! I’m aware of the human rights issues in SA as I am there, currently in the U.S.  But, we never know who might be there in the audience, listening and trying to connect with something greater than ourselves!”

Mills’ remarks did little to sway those speaking out against the event, one of whom called his comparison a false equivalence. “Kraftwerk has not been a Nazi band and they have not murdered countless humans for being gay, atheist or opposing the government…” wrote another. “…If Kraftwerk had been a Nazi band and influenced Juan Atkins so profoundly, guess what: I could do without Kraftwerk or Juan Atkins.”

None of the other MDL Beast Soundstorm 2021 headliners have made public statements at the time of writing. Spokespeople on behalf of billed artists including Mills, Väth, Cox, Dubfire and Lens as well as the event organizers themselves did not respond to Selector‘s request for comment.

The dynamic pair offered a first taste of their expansive sound in April: a reimagining of Mills’ “Infinite Voyage.” The track will also appear on The Override Switch along with seven unreleased ones (plus two bonus tracks on the digital album). The album is a nod to John Coltrane, J Dilla, Kraftwerk and other artists “who inspire experimentation with what can be evoked through music.”

Axis Alert > Coming October 15th. Jeff Mills and Rafael Leafar debuts the much-anticipated and groundbreaking THE OVERRIDE SWITCH (album).
Formats: 2 X 12" vinyl and digital
Coming 10/15/2021 at https://t.co/F6YcqjUW7F pic.twitter.com/nim6xwV7T9

— Jeff Mills (@DJJeffMills) August 26, 2021

“The Override Switch reflects on the precise moment people decide in their minds that the only way to improve a situation is to act—to change the scenario and deal with the consequences as they develop to work for a better outcome,” Mills is quoted in a press release.

“Unrestrained and unshackled by the semiotics placed by conventional dance music, it looks to a frontier beyond what is conditioned by genre,” the release continues. “By infusing the mercurial elements of jazz, it gives electronic instruments the avenue that it always had the potential to travel down; as an unrestrictive genre, exploring the boundless possibilities in which it is capable.”

Mills’ prior electronic jazz releases have included collaborations with legendary Afrobeat artist Tony Allen and French keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary, along with his Spiral Deluxe project with Yumiko Ohno, Kenji ‘Jino’ Hino and Gerald Mitchell.

Back in May 2020, Mills announced Axis would release classical, jazz and film soundtracks in addition to techno.

The end goal of Mills’ ambitious new project is to produce “everyday music” — songs that provide comfort and enjoyment in any scenario — through live instrumentation and a laid-back, unprocessed approach. Pairing a lifelong love of jazz with his constant inclination to explore new soundscapes, Zanza 21’s initial iteration will be instrumentation programmed and played by the producer himself.

Mills’ vision for the project extends far beyond that, however. The first Zanza 21 releases are meant to serve more as blueprints for the introduction of a live band down the line.

With the inclusion of live instruments, Zanza 21’s essence leans more toward a compositional approach to songwriting, rather than the electronic fare for which he is best known. It’s simultaneously a testament to Mills’ jazz roots and the realization of a desire to produce music that isn’t only meant for the dance floor.

Zanza 21’s first planned release comes in the form of a 12-inch vinyl record titled When The Time Is Right, due “soon” on Axis Records, according to a preview posted to Mills’ Facebook page. More Zanza 21 releases are also coming down the pipeline, with a second EP, Chin Tiki, due this fall, followed by a third. Mills hopes the initial releases will pave the way for implementing the live band element, which would breathe life into the concept behind Zanza 21: a human connection to the music.