Richie Hawtin,代号Plastikman,来自加拿大温莎市的他,是Underground Techno界享负盛名的巨星级DJ兼制作人,十多年来在圈中有着屹立不倒的地位,堪称得上是Minimal Techno乐派的佼佼者。
一人分饰两角,一直以来人所共知他作为音乐製作人的身份是Plastikman(抑或早年曾在Warp旗下发表作品的F.U.S.E.),而其本名Richie Hawtin,则是用作担纲DJ的角色。
打从九十年代末起,Richie Hawtin的唱片专辑产量已日渐并不下于Plastikman,因为Richie在其音乐生涯上开启了另一度重要的门户——带来了其DE9系列混音作品。然而这并非代表Richie Hawtin只顾出版Mix-Up唱片而疏于创作,反之他的意图是透过DE9系列唱片,视DJ-Mix为一种创造过程、把DJ-Mix带到去一个实验而破格的层面。
by Sean Cooper
Although of English and Canadian origins, Plastikmans Richie Hawtin is closely connected with the Detroit techno scene associated with figures such as Kenny Larkin, Stacey Pullen, Eddie Fowlkes, and Derrick May. His Plus 8 label — co-owned and operated with John Acquaviva — is one of the most influential experimental dance music imprints, and Hawtins own tracks recorded as Plastikman and F.U.S.E. are highly regarded as faithful, intelligent, forward-stepping updates of the Detroit sound. A DJ of renown and growing in repute as a remixer, Hawtin has seen his visibility as one of experimental dance musics more important and innovative figures rise ever since the release of his debut Plastikman album, Sheet One.
Hawtin was born in the English borough of Windsor in the early 70s, and when he was nine moved with his parents to Canada. An early interest in electronic-based pop and dance music turned serious when Hawtin discovered the tracks being pumped out of his neighbor across the river, Detroit. Beginning as a DJ in 1987, Hawtin quickly became involved in composition through his direct involvement in Detroits tight-knit community of musicians and producers. Combining early influences from European synth pop groups like Kraftwerk and New Order with the stripped-down techno futurism of Detroit innovators such as Juan Atkins and Derrick May, Hawtins tracks are as steeped in Motor City tradition as they deviate from it in terms of texture and rhythmic complexity.
Although 12 releases issued through Plus 8 and the European NovaMute label have all been pretty dancefloor-oriented, Hawtins attention to techno-based listening music has been just as focused through his full-length albums. His ambitious series of mix albums — including 1995s MixMag Live!, 1999s Decks, EFX & 909, 2001s DE9: Closer to the Edit, and 2005s DE9: Transitions — has emboldened his reputation as a conceptualist DJ.