On Saturday night I was out with a group of people, most of them ‘apparent’ tech heads. We were discussing some tracks etc. and then the subject arose regarding Jeff Mills, mainly on the back due to an upcoming tour. They were appraising his ‘liquid room’ and ‘exhibitionist’ mix’s and when I was asked for an opinion on the same I basically replied saying that ‘no I can’t recollect listening to them’, ‘and that I don’t listen to much of his productions’.
They went on to describe Mills as the ‘godfather’ of techno, the creator of all things we hear today…that the Detroit scene is like the birth of Jesus to the Christians. I can honestly say that I hardly own on slab of Detroit, but then does this exclude me as being respected as a tech enthusiast. Because I looked ‘uneducated’, I was ignored for the most part thereafter and felt like a dill, in a sense.
I’ve seen Mills play twice, and you know, I never at any stage saw anything earth shattering. I’ve never warmed to his mixed sets and have absolutely no interest in his style of techno, which is fine. Part of the great thing about techno which I applaud is the extreme diversity and interpretation of every production.
Which leads me to…am I missing something with Mills that I should respect and acknowledge?
I’ve actively been interested in techno since the late 90’s, but why do I need to respect the past to be involved in the present/future?
I was just cut that because I couldn’t contribute to the past, in conversation, meant that my input to the current was invalid? BTW, I didn’t really know these people, however there would’ve been no harm though in trying to impress them, but **** it, who cares!
