Hawtin’s own output goes back to techno’s formative years; his initial releases came out in 1989, building on the percolating but still very niche sounds pioneered in Detroit. Under aliases like Plastikman, F.U.S.E. and many, many more, Hawtin harnessed an elegant sleekness and menacing allure that helped move the genre from its electro-funk inspired roots to a more darkly cyberpunk-ish futurism. His most iconic tracks anticipate the pared-back, tactical austerity that defines our current era. Never content to sit still for too long, his career also remained in step with the evolution of minimal, ambient techno and other subgenres that sprouted off the core sound he helped pioneer. The lineup bridges these many sides, assembled with the curatorial clarity of a lifelong record digger and the intuitive cohesion of an expert DJ set.

Toronto's Barbosa drills down into driving loop techno, moving with a fierce impunity. “dark, industrial, hypnotic, and heavy” is how he described it in a recent interview. This energy is matched by VOIDWARE's Declan James. The Dallas, TX artist pushes a taut, dystopian edge, conjuring darkened landscapes with a rough, edgy grit. Fellow Dallas resident Decoder's cerebral, percolating tracks bring to mind a teeming tropical environment or chasms of haunting, empty space. Perhaps it has something to do with the sunscorched, lunar-esque surfaces of his home state, but there’s a paradoxically expansive density at work that envelops the listener.

Henry Brooks goes full throttle, searing the audience with raw and impactful bangers. A recent remix for Hadone shows how much liftoff one track can get; Brooks’ timeless blend of slamming drums with soaring, celestial melodies practically rips the carpet out from under you. Huey Mnemonic counters with a dash of soul. The Detroit artists’ music epitomizes the futuristic jazz of his hometown. His discography particularly reflects the legacies of Underground Resistance and label affiliates Drexciya, who braided barbed attacks with threads of reflective sweetness, laid back candor and mesmerizing beauty. 

Jay York tightens the screws - the Orlando producer's sets are lean and determined with a huge dose of funk. Lindsey Herbert's psychedelic and fluid approach has made her a breakout talent, while Tokyo's machìna brings a sculptural elegance and twisting strangeness to techno. Michelle Sparks leads the listener into the shadows with dark, pulsating atmospheres and tylr_ stops at nothing to get the party going, drawing on huge, rolling grooves and echoes of disco.

Taken in total, this cohort represents a snapshot of techno as it is today: looking back to move forward, rediscovering some of the most potent facets of a previous era without being bogged down by them, and ready to push a bold path into the future. Hawtin’s interest in the next wave is a rare and admirable trait in an artist of his caliber, and we look forward to seeing them give the master a run for his money.