Robert Hood - Internal Empire - Tresor Records - TRESOR 077

In techno terms, they don't come much more essential or seminal than Robert Hood's '94 release for Tresor, 'Internal Empire'. Upon release it was a manifesto for ultra sleek and efficient Detroit dance music, wasting little effort to gain maximum effect for the dancer's mind and feet. It stripped away the excesses imported from Belgian hardcore and UK rave to a whirring, tightly wound rhythmic core flying through deep inner space twinkling with street/star-lights and the dark atmospheres of Detroit's decrepit inner city. The infamous 'Minus' still sound as imposing today as it ever did, cooler than Plastikman's minimized acid bangers and mirroring the considered developments of Basic Channel on the other side of the world. 'Home' meanwhile gives minimal techno flexible limbs and sinewy muscle to bounce around the four/four while lushed-out synths colour the atmosphere with deeper shades of soul. 'Rek' is still a landmark of techno purity that's been studied to death by the Berghain crew, and 'Chase' blends good ol' fashioned EBM thrust with a clinically cold sci-fi vision. This is one of the most essential techno represses since 'Minimal Nation' and we implore you to check it without delay. Highly recommended!