High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music [DVD]

While this documentary is imperfect, it is pretty good. I give it 5 stars because I have not seen any other electronic music documentary even come close to covering Detroit techno and giving it its due.Do note that this doco is about the music created by Detroiters. It is not about Sven Vath, Warp Records, B12, or where techno went after its Detroit genesis.Also note that as one reviewer stated, there are some people that are not interviewed (e.g. Mike Banks). However, you have to realize the people that made this A)had a limited budget and B) had to work with the schedules of these various globetrotting DJs and producers. Going into it I didn't expect them to be able to get all the important people and it turns out they did miss a few. No biggie. Or, for all I know, they asked Mike and he refused. They did get the trinity and they got Mills & Carl Craig (among many others). Frankly as long as you have those 5, you know you at least have a decent product.Of interest was the fact that Ritchie Hawtin was included. Though the originators often diss him and go out of their way to say how he should not be included as part of the techno founders (or perhaps the techno community), the director of the doco did include him. While I personally both like a lot of Hawtin's stuff AND feel that his stuff isn't techno (his works seems to miss the whole soul/funk thing altogether) he was/is high profile and it is probably appropriate that he gets his time in front of the mike.Two problems with the documentary:1)for parts of the last half of the doco, the sound is not perfectly synced with the visual and it is noticeableto the casual observer.2) there should have been a bit more effort invested into explaining how techno proper (Detroit techno, the real thing, not Tresor Records, Basic Channel, or Kompakt)differ from house & trance and other flavors of electronic dance music. maybe the only people to watch this are aware of the distinction. On the off chance that a complete newbie watches this, however, I feel the director should have included 2 minutes to clarify the issue

Its like the history of Detroit techno meets big brother(very bitchy)

High Tech Soul is an enjoyable and inspiring documentary about techno music. The most devoted of techno fans among us will already know a good deal of the information presented here, but there is something very special seeing and hearing the actual people who brought this great musical art form to life.Watching it makes me wish I was there among them, enjoying these creative geniuses coming into their own.I would recommend this to any techno music fan who loves the music and wants to delve into it's history.

Don't get me wrong. This documentary interviews whites and blacks. The black musical pioneers thank and credit white musicians like Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode. The work implies that techno is especially big in Berlin. (In fact, this DVD offer German subtitles, but no Spanish or French ones.) So it is multi-culti.However, I think people interested in African-American cultural production will enjoy this. Soul music isn't usually guitar-heavy, yet Prince and Jimi Hendrix have scores of fans across races and are considered some of the world's greatest guitarists. I'm a Black person and I would think many of my peeps would dismiss techno as "too hard" and "not soulful." Therefore, it may surprise many that the genre's founders are Black. Many people praise rap because it originated from disenfranchised Blacks in the New York burroughs. Well, techno comes from Detroiters with the same sociological obstacles. One founder was wearing a T-shirt with a Benin mask and the Jamaican-inspired red, gold, and green colors.In short, if whole multi-disc documentaries can be made about jazz and its African-American roots, then I think folk will appreciate learning how techno comes from a new generation of Black folk, often under the same conditions. Still, it's post-modern, in that it speaks of how music circulates so quickly. It concludes with the pioneers saying, "I never knew that music I made for Detroiters would influence younger musicians in Germany and Tokyo." Also, as a Chicagoan, I am pleased that these musicans credit Chicago and its house music.

Well, first of all, this is a techno documentary...and that's why I give 3 stars. Everyone interviewed gives a passionate personal opinion, and many times, interesting facts about the birth of DETROIT TECHNO music.Now, as for the movie itself, there are many aspects I dislike. First, this is just about Detroit, and DETROIT TECHNO. They mention Kraftwerk, New Order, Depeche Mode....but that's just one mention. No detailed info on the Berlin-Detroit alliance, nothing about MadChester...all in all, not really much info outside of the Detroit, except when it comes to explain how Detroit Techno was hitting Europe.Another thing that bothers me is that Derrick May bashes Paul Oakenfold...and that's ok, because the man is just giving his opinion. However, no one asked him about his work with Steve Hillage, or Gerald Simpson. And there's a chapter about UR...but how come no one interviewed Rob Hood or Mike Banks. And not a single word on Drexciya, the Burden Brothers, Submerge and other projects that Carl Craig and Derrick helped such as Bandulu.Another thing...how can a documentary on Detroit not include an interview with Claude Young, Rob Hood, Rolando, Patrice Scott...?Too incomplete for the beginners...However, its a fine piece to satisfy the curiosity of those who know, but like to know more, or just listen to these brilliant minds speak.

Great story behind Detroit Techno, what else can I say but has all the major players and excellent interviews. Learn your techno history today!