''Elements 1989–1990'' is a 1996 compilation of early recordings by

Detroit techno Detroit techno is a type of techno music that generally includes the first techno productions by Detroit-based artists during the 1980s and early 1990s. Prominent Detroit techno artists include Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Derrick May, Jeff Mil ...

musician

Carl Craig Carl Craig (born May 22, 1969) is an American electronic music producer, DJ, and founder of the record label Planet E Communications. He is known as a leading figure and pioneer in the second wave of Detroit techno artists during the late 1980s ...

, released under the pseudonyms Psyche and BFC. It was released on Craig's label

Planet E Communications Planet E Communications is an independent electronic music recording label that started in 1991 in Detroit, Michigan. The label was founded by DJ/Producer Carl Craig. Planet E's first release was titled “Four Jazz Funk Classics,” which Craig re ...

and reissued in 2013. In 2011, ''

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'' named it one of the 20 greatest

ambient Ambient or Ambiance or Ambience may refer to: Music and sound * Ambience (sound recording), also known as atmospheres or backgrounds * Ambient music, a genre of music that puts an emphasis on tone and atmosphere * ''Ambient'' (album), by Moby * ...

albums ever made.

Recording

The recordings comprise some of Craig's earliest music, including his first recording "Neurotic Behavior." Beginning his career in his bedroom, Craig worked with a borrowed

4-track recorder Multitrack recording (MTR), also known as multitracking or tracking, is a method of sound recording developed in 1955 that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources or of sound sources recorded at different times to create a ...

. Some of the tracks were recorded in the homes of Derrick May, Renaat Vandepapeliere (of

R&S Records R&S Records is an independent record label founded in 1983 in Ghent, Belgium. R&S represents the initials of Renaat Vandepapeliere and Sabine Maes, the couple that created the label. R&S Records has had several subsidiaries, most notably Apollo Re ...

), and singer Sarah Gregory. These recordings were released on labels such as

Transmat Transmat is the record label of techno musician Derrick May, founded in 1986. For years, the label "released the tracks that would fuel the techno boom". Artists included Rhythim Is Rhythim, James Pennington, Joey Beltram, and more. Transmat in ...

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, and Craig's own Retroactive imprint. The track "Elements" was released on the various artists compilation ''Techno 2: The Next Generation'' (1990).

Reception

The compilation showcases Craig's atmospheric, introspective approach to

techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time (4/4) and often ch ...

, a feel which ''

'' described as "tranquilised sci-fi." Critic Tony Marcus praised the compilation, labeling the recordings "narcoleptic, interior techno."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

called the compilation "quintessential

" which demonstrated "Craig's talents as producer even at this early point in his career." Critic John Bush called the recordings "seminal" and stated that they are "long pointed to as the birth of the second wave of Detroit techno."

Tracklist

All tracks by

(tracks 1-5, 11 credited to Psyche; tracks 6-10, 12, 13 credited to BFC.) Tracks 1 and 7 edited by Anthony Shakir; track 3 features vocals by Sarah Gregory; track 5 mixed by Derrick May. # "Elements" – 6:50 # "Neurotic Behavior" – 7:42 # "Crackdown" – 5:58 # "From Beyond" – 5:43 # "Andromeda" – 4:55 # "Evolution" – 3:09 # "Galaxy" – 6:41 # "It's a Shame" – 5:39 # "Please Stand By" – 5:02 # "Chicken Noodle Soup" – 6:33 # "How the West Was Won" – 3:34 # "Sleep" – 5:11 # "D.Funk" – 5:16 (bonus track, 2013 reissue)

Personnel

Adapted from

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...

. *Carl Craig – producer, composer, liner notes *Anthony Shakir – edits (tracks 1 and 7) *Brendan M. Gillen – compilation, design *Abdul Haqq – cover artwork

References

1996 compilation albums Carl Craig albums Techno compilation albums {{DEFAULTSORT:Elements 1989-1990