*We suggest you stick it out for the whole 11 minutes. Shit gets exciting again ~7:00. The samples are from Detroit radio DJ Electrifyin Mojo interviewing Purple Rain tour era Prince.
When I first heard the wizard drop this track ['Future'], I thought the electrifying mofo just landed his mothership on my roof. My porch lights burned out. The very next day I headed for Buy-rite music on 7mi, I had to hook up on this track. I gave a big shout out to juan, who just happened to be chillin' in Buy-rite that day. Now, when I take this track for a ride on the 1200's, it still gives me chills. Those phased out synths and trade mark snares compliment the futuristic baseline, not to mention the piloting vocals.
The above is a comment from Model 500 discogs [left by author 'zorlac'] referencing their first hit, 'No UFO's/Future' 12" from '85. We are not exactly sure who zorlac is, but he sounds like a cool guy if he was on a first-name basis with Juan as in Atkins, co-creator of Detroit techno and just a straight up important figure in electronic music, who recorded under many names but most prominently as Model 500. 'Techno' has taken on somewhat lame connotations at present (well, it's just not our thing), but the Motor City OGs' electro funk style was totally another story– more Afrikaa Bambaataa/Kraftwerk meets soul meets hard Ford-factory robotism than much within the modern sphere of techno, or maybe we just don't know enough which is probable. 'No UFOs' is a dope song, but 'Night Drive (Thru Babylon),' also from '85, is their best– a track burning with late-night energy that paints a landscape of a gritty, but hyper-stylish, retrofuture dystopia that seems especially surreal in the context of Detroit 2010.
We came across the amazing clip above, featuring 'No UFO's' (among a bunch of others that are definitely worth watching if you're bored), from the The New Dance Show, a Detroit tv show from the late 80's/mid 90's that was basically Soul Train but in Detroit with dope music like Egyptian Lover and shit, and the most stylish people ever. Model 500 - No UFO's (Vocal)(251 kbps) Model 500 - Night Drive (Thru Babylon) (254 kbps)
Two of our favorite discoveries/releases this year go side by side nicely– tightly-produced, Detroit/Chicago-influenced, deep soulful house from Scotland's Linkwood and Stuttgart's Motor City Drum Ensemble. Linkwood's 'System' LP (released this September) shot out of left field and into our year's best albums list instantly; deep Midwest house slipping through phases of electro-funk-soul-boogie-jazz-italo... whatever you want to call it, this shit is just FRESH. Can't recommend this album highly enough (you can pick it up here).
Motor City Drum Ensemble, or Danilo Plessow, is a producer we can't believe we didn't catch on to sooner. Don't think he's released any full length albums yet, but each of his Raw Cuts series (#1-6) are shiny ass gold (pick em up here). Deep Detroit house with chunky kicks for days. If we heard this played out we'd probably explode (wink wink Chicago). MCDE also has a very nice RA podcast, which you can download here.
all music on outerglow is for strictly promotional purposes. we encourage you to support featured artists in any way you can. buying good music makes you feel good. if you would like anything removed, please contact outerglowing[at]gmail.com
we love to hear your music. send what you like to outerglowing[at]gmail.com.
