Warp 10 Vol. 1: Influences

Not only the world's premiere label for forward-thinking electronic dance, Sheffield's Warp celebrated its tenth anniversary with a historic compilation series, the first of which includes more than 20 techno classics from the '80s that influenced the imprint's founders and its many artists. And as compilations of obscure but important techno go, this could be the best ever produced. Warp 10+1: The Influences balances only the best tracks from the early Chicago house, Detroit techno, and British scenes, including undeniable classics from Mr. Fingers aka Larry Heard ("Can U Feel It"), Adonis ("No Way Back"), Reese & Santonio aka Kevin Saunderson ("The Sound"), Model 500 aka Juan Atkins ("Off to Battle"), Rhythim Is Rhythim aka Derrick May ("Nude Photo"), Phuture ("Acid Tracks"), 808 State ("Let Yourself Go"), and A Guy Called Gerald ("Voodoo Ray"). Most of these have been anthologized several times, but where Warp 10+1 really shines is the inclusion of a few incredibly rare tracks -- "Bang Bang You're Mine" by Bang the Party, "The Theme" by Unique Three, "My Medusa" by K-Alexi Shelby, "Computer Madness" by Steve Poindexter -- that techno fans have often heard about, but never heard. Electronic music has progressed so much over the course of ten years that later Warp heroes like Autechre and Aphex Twin sound nothing like these producers, but the energy and power of mid- to late-'80s techno is undiminished with time. ~ John Bush