A successful collaborative project can go two ways: it can bring your sound to a brand new audience, or end up overshadowing your work as a solo artist. The former was certainly true for Arthur Smith, aka Artwork, after his, Skream and Benga's Magnetic Man project took dubstep overground in 2010.Though most may have recognised Skream and Benga first, Artwork's understanding of and investment in electronic music over the past 15 years has proved more that fruitful. Having gained solid recognition in the late 90s under his techno alias Grain, Smith's past and present came together recently when Midland persuaded him to remix his track 'Trace' under the Grain moniker - and it turned out to be a certified club banger.
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After his recent Grain-curated party at Fabric went down a storm, we figured we'd hit him up to find out what some of his favourite old school slabs of techno are. This is a mean selection, so let it stomp all over you.Lil' Louis & The World - 'Nyce & Slo (The Love Bug)' (FFRR, 1990)
This one starts it off. When I was 15, I went into a record shop in Croydon and this had just come in on import. The guy behind the counter brought out a copy, played it and it just had to be mine. After taking it home and listening to it on repeat about 100 times, I decided that this wasn't that hard to make - and that I would get the right equipment and make something just as good. That was a fucking long time ago now, and I've still not come anywhere close. Youthful ambition, I guess.Gemini - 'Klonopin' (Relief, 1994)
This record fascinated me. I loved how brave it was. The first time I heard it I was at a party, and I remember the crowd cheered when the high hats came in. It takes a bit more than that to get that kind of reaction today, but still, I just cheered when they came in again now. It's still a go-er in my book.
Jeff Mills - 'Man-Like' (Tresor, 1992)
This is one of my favourite Jeff Mills tracks of all time. It's close to five minutes of pure energy, and all from one drum machine and one synth. It's not what you go, is it?
The Evader - 'No Hats Required' (Cosmic, 1994)
Steve Bicknell is probably the single biggest influence on my musical life. Steve, along with Sheree, runs Lost in London, which is where I heard the best music in my life. They brought Jeff Mills, Richie Hawtin, Robert Hood, Basic Chanel, Derrick May, Jaun Atkins and countless other DJ heroes of mine from around the world to warehouses with the best soundsystems - and all usually within half an hour from my house. But, the real hero for me was always Steve; uncompromising music, always with the best taste, and is still to this day my favourite DJ of all time. Oh, and he made some pretty heavy records to boot.
Mike Dunn - 'Gherkin Aftermath' (Rush Hour, 2011)
I used to do a lot of drugs at weekends. I'm not condoning this, or saying you should, but I remember hearing this record once and actually hearing the acid line describe to me, in great detail, what I should do with my life.
Fingers Inc. - 'I'm Strong' (R&S, 1990)
This is a masterclass in pure tension from a master of musical boxes, Larry Heard.
The Suburban Knight - 'The Art Of Stalking' (R&S, 1990)
In 1990 Kiss 100 FM went legal in London, and for my mates and I this was a huge thing to happen: house music was being played in the day. I met with my friends later on and we discussed how this was a new world; where great music would be played in the day, on radio, and we were part of it. Of course all that lasted about three months before it was utter shite again, as usual. But hey, it was a great three months.
LFO - 'Track 4' (Warp, 1990)
This is an absolute belter. I felt enormously encouraged at the time that this was made in the UK, when we were listening to a lot of American music and trying to make (or replicate) it. This one had a new edge for us. BASS.
Detrechno - 'Sole Waves' (Detrechno, 1994)
I bought this record a very long time ago, and I still get asked what it is every time I play it. I don't know a lot about who made it, and googling it and printing out seems a bit weird, so there you go - a record I know nothing about, apart from the fact that it's a blinder. Oh, and here's a video I found of people dancing to the B side, in the correct manner.
Paranoid London Feat Paris Brightledge - 'Paris Dub 1' (Paranoid London, 2012)
Well, here's me banging on about the gold ol' days, but this one is only a couple of years old and keeping the flame very much alive. Superb - and vinyl only, of course. Enjoy.
Artworks plays Fabric, London, tonight. For more details, go here.
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