When it comes to Resident DJs, Ministry of Sound have always smashed it, pulling together some of the most influential and pioneering artists from all over the world. But amongst them all, when it comes to Derrick May, we literally want to pull out the red carpet, get down on our knees and give him some serious respect!
Alongside Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, May is regarded as one of the kings of the Detroit sound, a founding father of one of the most influential sounds in dance music. Inspired by Yello and Kraftwerk, he began to make electronic music with Atkins and Saunderson while studying with them at Belleville High, Detroit. Recording either as Mayday or Rhythim Is Rhythim (occasionally in conjunction with Carl Craig) and generally on his own Transmat Records label, he went on to carve out a new vein in dance music that synthesized the advances of the electro movement with the more challenging end of the House movement - a music that defined "techno". Early cuts such as "Nude Photo" (co-written by Thomas Barnett) and "The Dance", both on Transmat, were inspirational to many. However, it was the release of "Strings Of Life" in 1987, which, with its wide appeal to the house music fans of the late 80s, simultaneously brought May his deserved acclaim and Detroit techno to European club-goers.
May went on to cut three tracks on System 7's debut album, before Network released Innovator: Soundtrack For The Tenth Planet in 1991, a six-track EP that comprised some of May's definitive moments to date. In the same year, May was responsible for what Carl Craig has called the finest remix ever, Sueo Latino's "Sueo Latino", itself a reworking of Manuel Goettsching's epic "E2-E4". It was followed in 1992 by Relics, a double album of Transmat's finest moments, heavily featuring Rhythim Is Rhythim, which coincided with a re-release of "Strings Of Life" on the Belgium label Buzz, this time in a drumless version reminiscent of May's "Sueo Latino" remix. More recently, Transmat has been revived following its signing to Sony. This has resulted in the long-awaited release of Rhythim Is Rhythim's 1991 recordings, "Kao-tic Harmony" and "Icon", and the Japanese (and subsequent American) release of a comprehensive Derrick May retrospective, Innovator, which contains all May's work for the Transmat label including remixes and tracks released for the first time.
As a DJ, Derrick continued to move dancefloors with his no-nonsence Techno grooves. His eastethic, skeletal, melancholy style gained him the nickname of "the Miles Davis of techno”, and still May was always pushing his sound forward, introducing an increasingly psychological element and a futuristic vision in dance music. He continues to travel extensively around the world to a still adoring crowd, including the thousands that flock to Ministry of Sound for his legendary Hi-Tek Soul Parties.
There is no way to quantify the impact and influence Derrick May has had on Techno and the dance music scene as a whole, and he still works to keep the scene alive and fresh. As an ambassador for Detroit and techno, May spent much time in the UK and Europe promoting the music at a time when America was not ready to wake up. At a time where the 'Summer of Love' was at its peak, May's recordings, especially the seminal 'Strings of life' helped heighten and give further fuel to the movement. As well as his original production work, May's 'Mayday' remix projects are also legendary. His re-workings turn average tracks into unique masterpieces, nowhere more evident than on his classic remix of pop band Dee-Lite's 'Wild Times'. This tune would also become a favorite of UK DJs at huge raves across the country, with its mixture of pounding hard basslines and tear rendering piano melodies, all combined with May's trademark intricate and effect laden techno beats.
He also still runs his Transmat label from Detroit, which has been given a new lease of life in recent years with the introduction of many artists that have helped kick start Detroit's 'third wave' of dominence over techno. Artists like Aril Brikha, Microworld and Indio have taken the label in a new direction, maybe less raw and brutal as May's early work, but still full of the same emotionally unrestrained sexy electronic funk that Derrick May helped give birth to.
A showcase of everything Derrick has helped create and influenced, this is one of our most high-profile parties and is undoubtedly one of the best Techno nights in London. With Derrick May behind it, guests on the decks have included Kevin Sanderson, Francois K, Collin Dale, as well as the best DJs in Techno from around the world.