Robert Hood on minimal and Fabric 39

Robert Hood on minimal and Fabric 39

30 January, 2008 | 1.01PM

• Section: Music News Topics: Beatport Blog
• Written by: Terry Church

In an interview about his forthcoming Fabric 39 mix compilation, minimal techno visionary and pioneer Robert Hood revealed his thoughts on the sound which he helped create in the early 1990s.

Speaking about his groundbreaking record label M-Plant, Hood said:

“M-Plant kind of borrowed from the sound I was using from Axis [the label Robert Hood set up with Jeff Mills] and really expanded on that sound.

“I had developed this “grey area” sound - what I mean by that is that in Detroit, even when the sun is out, there’s something in the atmosphere.

“The sky has a grey haze over it.

“It’s got to be something from the industrial factories there.

“I’d never really heard a sound like that before and it came from a Roland Juno - it was a chord sound that really went along with my depiction of what Detroit was at that time.

“A lot of buildings were abandoned and there was a lot of lifelessness in the city, especially downtown.

“The M-Plant, in minimalism, kind of reflected that.

“I remember thinking of Detroit like a museum. You know, like a work of art standing still, suspended in time.”

Robert Hood also commented on the current popularity of minimal.

“These days I am focused purely on minimalism and really embracing minimalism, because it’s taken on a life of its own.

“It’s now a music style separate from techno.

“I would never have imagined that it would take this direction.

“I didn’t see that one coming!

“I saw minimalism in life becoming more and more evident - in furniture, in electronics, in art, in automobiles, appliances - you know, I could see that coming.

“But, as far as music itself being thought of now as an art form?

“Back then, I think people looked on at it as a trend but they didn’t realise that minimalism is an art form.

“I did not realise it would take on this characteristic as it has now.

“So, where I’m at right now is embracing minimalism and seeing how far I can push it - in my interpretation of what simplicity and the music is all about.

“I am really representing it as an art form and not a trend. As the future evolves, we’re going to get more and more minimal.”

Expect then, Robert Hood’s Fabric 39 mix to be, well, minimal.

“A set from Fabric is the only way I want to go,” said Hood.

“This mix has to be about the club.

“I’d like it to be dancefloor orientated and to take the listener on a trip.

“Any project I do, I like to read like a book.

“I like it to tell a story, you know?

“Not to just be random songs or tracks. It has to have continuity to take you on a ride.

“It should have a concept and be able to translate and read as such.

“The DJ mix will be enhanced with live elements added to the mix.

“The live elements are just tracks or patterns, rhythm patterns that will be exclusive to the CD.”

Check out Robert Hood’s perfect techno beats in the player below. 

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