Train Wreck Mix - Live at Fabric, London

Robert Hood

M-Plant, Duet, Atmore, Alabama

In an era where credit is rarely given when due, a lot of today’s so-called "Minimal" enthusiasts may not actually be familiar with its creator: the magnificent and innovative Robert Hood. Raised primarily on Motown in Detroit, Robert Hood’s family was enveloped in music: his mother recorded a 45” locally, his uncle managed Jazz and R&B bands, his grandmother’s first cousin was Berry Gordy, his father was a Jazz musician. Robert followed his father's footsteps at a young age, picking up trumpet in the school band. But, distracted by youth, it wasn't long before he swapped the trumpet for vinyl, obsessively focussing on the arrangements, musicality and instrumentation of the records he cherished. His zealous interest in production guided him to a pawn shop, where he picked up some basic equipment and began recording demos. Eventually, a fortuitous introduction to a well-connected musician, Mike Clark (aka Agent X), led to him eventually pass on a demo to a key player in underground Detroit, Mike Banks. With UR, Robert forged a path for himself, creating a simple yet powerful sound that fully encompassed the Detroit ethos, but also pushed unparalleled levels of imagination. Many seminal UR releases later, shortly after the X-102 project Jeff Mills and Robert decided set up Axis, which was "more of a housey, abstract sound that was different from the experimental Techno from UR, and that was different from the Detroit Metroplex and Transmat/KMS sound. It was more of a grounded sound." Hood & Mills hopped cross-country to NYC in '92, the home for their brilliant H&M productions together. Robert's own ground-shattering 'Minimal Nation' LP hit the electronic music world with unprecedented explosion – it is credited today as a turning point for Techno. Shortly after, Hood took a step alone, and in an entirely different direction, with M-Plant in 1994. Still here today, the man records music, produces remixes and flexes his record mixing skills for clubs like London's Fabric - always blessed with a distinct and very own sound.