TECHNO TREE

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRACE A MUSICAL GENRE BACK TO A SPECIFIC FIGURE, PLACE OR MOMENT IN TIME? WHAT ABOUT TECHNO, PERHAPS THE BROADEST GENRE THERE IS?

There’s been a little discussion of late about Detroit and its role in the ‘creation’ or ‘invention’ of techno music. Some have suggested there’s a degree of chest beating going on from some of its key exponents, that yes, the city was massively influential, but to say something was ‘invented’ there, as some have, is perhaps too presumptive. Let’s not even go there. Instead, let’s salute the bravery of Si Scott who, working with the wonderful Electronic Poet clothing label, has willingly put his neck on the line in creating this beautiful new artwork and t-shirt: a family tree of techno. It’s bound to ruffle a few feathers - anything so close to people’s hearts will. Can, for instance, techno really be traced back just to Kraftwerk? Has Berlin been under-represented? And isn’t this all just subjective opinion anyway?

At some point, Scott clearly had to say “enough is enough” and just go for it - make some cuts and piss a few people off. Personally, I love it. It’s beautiful, and it’s about stuff that I dig. What’s not to like? And what’s not to like about Electronic Poet, the new clothing label that manages to blur the boundaries between fashion, design and proper music?! Fair play to ‘em.