Carl Craig - Detroit Innovator

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1969 Carl Craig was a key player amongst the city’s second wave of techno producers and a prime mover in the progression of the genre. Now one of the world’s most prolific techno talents Craig followed the lead of the Detroit innovators, Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Eddie Fowlkes, creating innovative, futuristic music from the motor city. Growing up in Detroit Craig consumed a diverse musical diet taking in Prince & Led Zeppelin via The Smiths. A young Carl was introduced to Detroit’s club scene by his cousin, a lighting man for various parties in the city. The mid-80s were exciting times in the city with local kids being introduced to new sounds by a high school club scene centred around venues such as Snobs & Weekends and local radio, most notably The Electrifying Mojo’s Midnight Funk Association show. Mojo’s show featured an eclectic mix of electronic sounds from the likes of Giorgio Moroder & Kraftwerk alongside the funk of Parliament and new wave sounds from The B-52s & Talking Heads. Inspired, many listeners took up mixing and experimented with recording techniques Carl Craig was no exception and managed to persuade his parents to buy him a synthesizer and sequencer. At this time Craig met a friend of Derrick May whose early recordings were setting the blueprint for the Detroit techno sound. Via this mutual acquaintance a tape of Carl’s home productions ended up in the hands of May. Loving what he heard, May took Carl Craig into the studio to record ‘Neurotic Behavior’. A completely beatless track, due to Craig not owning a drum machine, it contained all the electronic emotion and machine funk prevalent in the music of the godfathers of the genre such as Juan Atkins. As the techno scene started to explode Craig was well placed to witness the effects, joining Derrick May in 1989 to tour the UK with Rhythim Is Rhythim alongside Kevin Saunderson’s Inner City. During this trip Carl was involved in a defining moment in techno history as he helped May out on production duties for a re-recording of ‘Strings Of Life’, a seminal release that would light up dancefloors all over the world and spread the Detroit sound far and wide. During this time Craig was releasing music in his own right, first up as Psyche on Transmat records. He then set up the Retroactive label releasing 6 singles as BFC, Paperclip People & Carl Craig. After dissolving Retroactive, Planet E Communications was born. The first releases on the label were under the alias 69. Taking in influences from hip-hop, hardcore and ambient electronica these proved to be hugely influential works. Next up was the birth of The Innerzone Orchestra. Craig’s debut release under this moniker ‘Bug In The Bassbin’ became a vital record in the history of drum & bass. UK DJs would change the speed of the record from 33 rpm to 45 creating a diy jungle breakbeat. Throughout the next decade Carl Craig would keep spreading the Detroit message constantly developing and evolving his sound. Paperclip People, Urban Tribe, Designer Music, amongst many other guises, and remixes for the likes of Tori Amos & Incognito would see his music taking on wide ranging influences and introduce him to new audiences. Now a preserve for jazz-oriented recordings The Innerzone Orchestra hit the studio in 1999 to record the album ‘Programmed’. Craig was joined in his endeavors by Francisco Mora Catlett, one time Sun Ra Arkestra percussionist, and Craig Taborn of The Art Ensemble Of Chicago amongst others. A sublime album followed, featuring organic reworkings of seminal Carl Craig tracks such as ‘At Les’ and ‘Bug In The Bassbin’ as well as new compositions. You can find Programmed here at Lost Tunes and it’s an honour for us to be able to include an album by the genius that is Carl Craig.