JEFF MILLS

Review: Back in 2016, legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen approached techno pioneer Jeff Mills with the idea of working together. A series of live gigs and off-the-radar studio sessions followed, with the first fruits of their joint efforts finally appearing on this must-have 10". As you'd expect, the duo's collaborative work combines Allen's traditional Nigerian polyrhythms, traditional Afrobeat instrumentation, and the far-sighted, sci-fi inspired electronic futurism that has always marked out Mills' work. The result is a quartet of cuts that could arguably be described as retro-futurist Afro-tech - all delay-laden beats, basslines and organs subtly sparring with gentle acid lines, Motor City electronics, beguiling deep space textures and shimmering, 31st century motifs. It's arguably Allen's stylistic contributions that dominate, but that's no bad thing.

Review: Detroit techno legend Jeff Mills has suggested that his new conceptual opus should be experienced in isolation, free of noise and visual distractions and listened to in its entirety. Like its name may suggest, The Clairvoyant has an arcane, mystical and somewhat understated quality throughout. Opening cut the 'The Seance' has that chiming and hypnotic style of trance induction familiar from most of his other work on Axis, other times venturing into knackered, off-kilter territory as heard on 'Someone Who Feels Things' and at other opportunities exploring similarly unusual time signatures, textures and moods as heard on the mesmerising trilogy 'Three Signs From The Other Side'. More upbeat, groove based experiments you've come to know from Mills (and which will similarly appeal to DJs) can be heard on the majestic 'Questions, Decisions And Consequences' or the typically syncopated rhythms of 'Ganzfeld Experiments'. In a word, magnificent.

Review: The Wizard returns with yet another conceptual project steeped in sci-fi on his new LP Lost In Space. Somehow Jeff Mills' constant forays into said aesthetics are always so fascinating. From his reinterpretation of the soundtrack to Fritz Lang's Metropolis at the turn of the millennium, to releases like Time Machine or Man From Tomorrow: this is where we see the techno master at his most creative. The five track release is the first material from Mills' new electronic-classical project, which is a collaboration with Orchestre National Du Capitole De Toulouse. It is not the first time the Detroit artist has worked with an orchestra: back in 2005 he collaborated with Montpellier Philharmonic Orchestra on the Blue Potential LP where they assisted him on covers from his esteemed Axis/Purpose Maker and Underground Resistance back catalogue. The real power of the musicians' contribution can be heard on tracks like "Planets X " which still retain Mill's power of the original, while "Gliese 436B" employs his trademark hypnotic sound.

Review: Even by Jeff Mills' usually grandiose standards, there's something willfully epic about Planets; a hybrid electronic/orchestral score paying tribute to the wonders of the solar system, in a similar vein to Gustav Holst's celebrated Planets suite. It's a dizzyingly grandiose work in concept and execution, with the Detroit legend being joined by a Portuguese orchestra on a set that mixes sweeping movements with atmospheric ambient interludes. The resultant score is utterly beguiling, undeniably intergalactic, jaw-dropping in scale and capable of switching from dramatic intensity to becalmed bliss in the blink of an eye. The project's roots are explored further on disc two, which showcases Mills' original electronic compositions.

Review: Electronic icon Jeff Mills links up with fellow Detroit talent Rafael Leafar for this one on his own Axis, and it is yet another sublime exploration of the cosmos through the medium of techno. Leafar brings all his next level multi-instrumentalist skills and strong love of jazz to the duo and when combined with Mills' ability to speak through his machines, it makes for a unique record. The icy percussion rolls deep, taking you into another dimension each and every time while the noodling sax brings sombreness and soul. Big, splashy cymbals, dark chords and a real sense of mystery and intrigue keep you utterly locked throughout.

Review: Jeff Mills and the Zanza 21 project have been workmen away on this new one for sometime. It is an accumulation of ideas that take jazz principles and apply them to electronic music, or more specifically the theory that "music is most useful at the point when it touches the soul of the listener, until then, it's just sound." As such Jeff layers up his acoustic and electronic instruments - all of which he plays himself - into star gazing tunes with rich astral melodies and big, bulky grooves that are easy to attach yourself to but hard to forget. This is the first of many releases that are already done and dusted, so keep your eyes peeled for more.