After a proper hiatus from his post Underground Resistance home in the late ’90s, the underground sound that is Trackmasta Lou and Scan 7 return to Tresor for a new EP. The record was announced in the Scan 7 signature mysterious style, with the below video suddenly appearing online a few weeks back.
The return to Tresor is a big deal, and for more than just the obvious reason of new wax from the Detroit collective headed by Trackmasta Lou. In 1996 and 1999 respectively, Tresor released the Scan 7 albums Dark Territory and Resurfaced, two full-length techno affairs that have stood the test of time better than 90% of their then contemporaries. Coming off the back of the releases with Underground Resistance, Scan 7 vinyl was already “buy on sight” for many, but for others it was the extra dimension added by the tightness of the full length albums that took Scan 7 to the next level.
In 2012 we’re celebrating twenty-five years of Scan 7 activity. A quarter of a century of Detroit styled techno militancy from an underground leader who practices what he preaches. The live show is legendary, surpassing the benchmark for any underground night you may frequent (if only we could get the clubs to care about their sound in the same way!). While a lot of the early pioneers of this scene are base their current status on rinsing what they did twenty years ago, Trackmasta Lou has never stopped, constantly pushing himself and the worldwide scene in new directions.
We’re all in this together, and if we’re in it for the right reasons then this is the benchmark not only for where we should be at, but also where we should be headed.
Synonymous with Detroit, techno, and Tresor, Scan 7 have remained protagonists of the Berlin-Detroit axis since it was first forged in the sweaty obsidian of the club’s original Wertheim vault home. Now, over 20 years later, the masked techno collective pay tribute to the triptych’s matted histories on ‘The Resistance EP’.
With identifiable nods to Scan 7’s Underground Resistance affiliations – the label that launched the group, and whose militaristic and political philosophies can be found littered throughout their discography – the EP begins with quintessential Detroit strings and groove before delving into darker techno territory. On the A-side, “The Resistance” offers an uplifting and delightfully nostalgic jaunt through dance music past, using all those favourite and immortal house tropes to deliver instant gratification. Meanwhile, the B-side shows off Scan 7 as masters of warm, yet shadowy techno – plus their trademark drum work – in the hypnotic “Why Not?” and driving, basement-ready “In & Out Of The Groove”.
Alongside many outings on Tresor’s renowned compilation series, Scan 7 produced two albums for the label – ‘Dark Territory’ in 1996, followed up by ‘Resurfaced’ in 1999 – before leader TrackMasta Lou’s Cratesavers Muzik took over as the group’s primary recording outlet.
‘The Resistance EP’ is a welcomed return to Tresor from one of its stalwart artists, and paves the way for a retrospective compilation on 20 years of Scan 7, due out at the close of the year.