‘Paris / Berlin – 20 Years of Underground Techno’ Documentary

Went down to 107 Projects for a screening of this documentary over the weekend, highly recommend checking it out. Thought we’d covered most of the techno doco’s out there, but happy to report  Paris / Berlin – 20 Years Of Underground Techno offers something different. Not nearly as polished as the great High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music,the ’96 French documentary Universal Techno, or even the RA Real Scenes to some degree, but given it’s take on the underbelly of the techno scene it’s somewhat appropriate.

With only a brief mention to the Belleville Three, director Amelie Ravelec’s focus was on the established scenes of Berlin and France, where techno spent it’s teenage and adult years. Heroes such as Regis, Adam X, Ancient Methods, Terence Fixmer and Lupo (LEGEND at Dubplates & Mastering – reference AWK007) speak out for a totally different slant on the circular popularity of techno. These are the voices that are underexposed, those who’ve lived the music and give more and more to the scene at each gig then who we normally

Venues such as Berghain are weighed in on, as is dubplate culture and interestingly enough the geographical layout of France in relation to how their scene will evolve. The movie’s split in to sections, which I’ve always found unnecessary for film’s who’s direction is clear, but it does add to the accessibility and knowing American geography is probably slightly more necessary nowadays.

On that note – the difference in European attitudes towards electronic music really comes through. The artists talk about the rise in popularity, the superstar DJs (Regis calling out Carl Cox among others is brilliant) and more importantly the desire for the European scenes to be “faceless music” and retaining the legitimacy of what they do. It’s honest, and any bedroom DJ or warehouse raver will be taken back to the first time they were moved by techno.

You can order the DVD direct from the site: http://www.paris-berlin-20years.com

If nothing else you’ll learn what a legend Adam X is. Him going off on alien tangents and Regis parring entire scenes is worth the price of entry alone.

via Les Films Du Garage

“This is what techno was about, this is what it should be about, and hopefully this is gonna stay this way for a while now..” Adam X (Sonic Groove)

This 52” documentary tells the story of an underground movement, from its beginning until now. Born in Detroit in the late 80s, techno met its audience a few years later in Europe, as the UK, Germany, France and many others countries started to host the foundations of a techno scene.

It is mostly focused on Paris and Berlin. Two different cities, two different tales, but techno grew up in both, from secret underground parties to huge clubs, from a small faceless movement to an established business, and from vinyl to digital.

The documentary features those in the scene who kept it true to its original spirit. About twenty people trace the evolution of techno over the years. They all have different profiles – dj, producer, label manager, promoter, record shop owner.. but all share a common passion : techno.

With Adam X (Sonic Groove), Regis (Downwards), Ancient Methods (AM/ Downwards), Kareem (Zhark Berlin), Function (Sandwell District), Lucy (Stroboscopic Artefacts), Laurent Garnier (Fcom), Nick Höppner (Ostgut ton), Terence Fixmer (Planète Rouge), Christophe (Toolbox Records),Tama Sumo (Ostgut ton), Dasha Rush (Full Panda), Henning Baer (Grounded Theory), Milton Bradley (Do not resist the beat), Lupo (Dubplates&Mastering), Tobias Rapp (Berlin, techno und der Easy Jet set), Electric Rescue (Skryptom), Fabrice Gadeau (Rex Club), Laurent Baylet / Patrick Bamberger (Dimuschi), Mathieu Guilien (Paris III-Sorbonne), Remote (Kill the Dj), Heartbeat (Dement3d)