Review: Some two decades after it first slipped out of Underground Resistance's Motor City studio and into record stores worldwide, one of UR's most magnificent moments has been given a deserved reissue. Largely produced by 044 (real name Gerald Mitchell) and featuring vocals from one of his relatives (one Ron Mitchell), 'Hardlife' is not so much a sci-fi techno anthem as a mid-90s US garage/soulful house workout with sparkling, undeniably intergalactic, Motor City synths. As it did back in 2001, it comes backed with a fine remix from the late Aaron Carl that successfully re-frames the track as sparse, bouncy chunk of soul-fired peak-time techno.
Review: First released back in 2007, UR's 'Hi Tech Dreams' is widely regarded as one of 'Mad' Mike Banks' most perfectly formed EPs - in part because its blend of optimistic techno futurism with dancefloor darkness offers a neat summary of the 'dreaming of utopia, living in a dystopia' message at the heart of Underground Resistance's militant ethos. But analysis aside, it's simply a terrific record - as this timely reissue proves. A-side 'Hi Tech Dreams' lives up to its promise, with far-sighted melodies, tactile riffs and soulful vocal samples rising above a loose-limbed Motor City techno beat. In contrast, 'Lo Tech Reality' is a moodier and more melancholic chunk of breakbeat-driven techno, while 'Hold My Own' is a murky, hip-hop influenced downtempo head-nodder.
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