Fabric Celebrates 25 Years Of Metroplex

Written by Manu Ekanayake Monday, 04 October 2010 11:09

News

On Saturday 9^th October some of techno’s most enduring and inspirational artists will converge on fabric to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Detroit label Metroplex. Juan Atkins, Eddie ‘Flashin’ Fowlkes, Anthony ‘Shake’ Shakir (live!) and Keith Tucker (Aux 88)... techno heads,  you've been warned!

Metroplex’s founder Juan Atkins was the central member of what became known as the ‘Belleville Three’ aka the group of young producers – which included Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, alongside Juan – that gave us techno; thus creating both a style of music and a lifestyle that still powers people’s weekends a quarter of a century after its inception.

And while Juan (who recorded as Cybotron and later Model 500) might be leading the charge in fabric’s Room 1, he’s not hogging the limelight. He brings with him Eddie ‘Flashin’ Fowlkes, who started his production career back in 1986 with Goodbye Kiss, a crashing workout of what he called ‘techno soul’, which lead him to record for labels as celebrated as Tresor and Creation. He’s the one we’re looking forward to the most…apart from Shake himself. 

Shake never played much in Europe, unlike many Detroit heads, so he’s never really got the international recognition he deserves. But the recent Frictionalism compilation on the Rush Hour label should prove his skill to any doubters. And finally there’s Keith Tucker, one half of Aux 88 and thus the man when it comes to serious electro-techno. Serious heads only for this one, please.