Underground Resistance
Encyclopedia
Underground Resistance is a musical collective from Detroit, Michigan
, in the United States of America. They are the most militantly political example of modern Detroit Techno
, with a grungy, four-track musical aesthetic and a strictly anti-mainstream business strategy. They have exerted their portion of Detroit Techno's cultural influence towards promoting political activism.
Begun in the late 1980s by Jeff Mills
and "Mad" Mike Banks
, UR related the aesthetics
of early Detroit Techno to the complex social, political, and economic circumstances which followed on from Reagan
-era inner-city economic recession, producing uncompromising music geared toward promoting awareness and facilitating political change. Later Robert "Noise" Hood
joined the collective.
As with Public Enemy, there have been intimations that UR's subversively 'militant' approach to music was related to the activities of the Black Panthers in the 1970s, something not entirely accurate as Mills explains in an interview.
Many of Underground Resistance's labelmate's early releases were the product of various experiments by Banks, Mills, and Hood, both solo and in collaboration, before Mills and Hood left the collective in 1992 to achieve international success as solo artists and DJs. Mike Banks continued to lead UR in the wake of the split, releasing EPs during the mid-1990s such as "Return of Acid Rain," "Message to the Majors," and "Galaxy to Galaxy" under the UR name, as well as 12-inches by increasingly renowned artists such as Drexciya
.
UR tracks have occasionally been released on other labels (usually in what UR metaphorically describe as "reconnaissance" or "infiltration").
1998's "Interstellar Fugitives", the first full album credited to Underground Resistance, saw Mike Banks redefining the collective's sound as "High-Tech Funk", reflecting a shift in emphasis from hard, minimal club Techno to breakbeats, Electro and even occasionally Drum and Bass
and down-tempo Hip-Hop
. In 1999, newcomer DJ Rolando
released UR's most commercially successful EP, "The Knights of The Jaguar".
In 2000, Kraftwerk
released a remix single of their theme composed for the Expo 2000 in Hanover, featuring contributions from the UR artists. Their real names were not mentioned in the credits, but were hidden behind the numbers - 035, 038, 039 & 044, referring to the UR catalogue:
035 – DJ Rolando 038 – Mike Banks 039 – Andre Holland 044 – Gerald Mitchel
From 2002 onwards, Kraftwerk's live shows featured the group performing UR's remixes compiled in the song now called "Planet of Visions".
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in the United States of America. They are the most militantly political example of modern Detroit Techno
Detroit techno
Detroit techno is an early style of electronic music beginning in the 1980s. Detroit, Michigan has been cited as the birthplace of techno music. Prominent Detroit Techno artists include Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson...
, with a grungy, four-track musical aesthetic and a strictly anti-mainstream business strategy. They have exerted their portion of Detroit Techno's cultural influence towards promoting political activism.
Begun in the late 1980s by Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills is an American techno DJ and producer.-Career:Starting in the early 1980s, Mills, using the name "The Wizard", was a recurring guest DJ on "The Electrifying Mojo" radio show on WJLB...
and "Mad" Mike Banks
Mike Banks (musician)
Michael Anthony Banks, better known as "Mad" Mike Banks, is an American techno producer. He is the co-founder, along with Jeff Mills, of US record label Underground Resistance and was a key player in the "second generation" of Detroit techno....
, UR related the aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
of early Detroit Techno to the complex social, political, and economic circumstances which followed on from Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
-era inner-city economic recession, producing uncompromising music geared toward promoting awareness and facilitating political change. Later Robert "Noise" Hood
Robert Hood
Robert Hood is an American electronic music producer and DJ. He is a founding member of group Underground Resistance as a 'Minister Of Information' with Mad Mike Banks & Jeff Mills. He is often considered to be one of the founders of minimal techno....
joined the collective.
As with Public Enemy, there have been intimations that UR's subversively 'militant' approach to music was related to the activities of the Black Panthers in the 1970s, something not entirely accurate as Mills explains in an interview.
Many of Underground Resistance's labelmate's early releases were the product of various experiments by Banks, Mills, and Hood, both solo and in collaboration, before Mills and Hood left the collective in 1992 to achieve international success as solo artists and DJs. Mike Banks continued to lead UR in the wake of the split, releasing EPs during the mid-1990s such as "Return of Acid Rain," "Message to the Majors," and "Galaxy to Galaxy" under the UR name, as well as 12-inches by increasingly renowned artists such as Drexciya
Drexciya
Drexciya was an electronic music band from Detroit, Michigan. The late James Stinson was the only officially identified member of Drexciya, but it was considered an open secret that he had a partner, Gerald Donald.- Style :...
.
UR tracks have occasionally been released on other labels (usually in what UR metaphorically describe as "reconnaissance" or "infiltration").
1998's "Interstellar Fugitives", the first full album credited to Underground Resistance, saw Mike Banks redefining the collective's sound as "High-Tech Funk", reflecting a shift in emphasis from hard, minimal club Techno to breakbeats, Electro and even occasionally Drum and Bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
and down-tempo Hip-Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. In 1999, newcomer DJ Rolando
DJ Rolando
DJ Rolando is a Latin American techno DJ and producer from Detroit, Michigan, United States. He released music with the groups Underground Resistance and Los Hermanos...
released UR's most commercially successful EP, "The Knights of The Jaguar".
In 2000, Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
released a remix single of their theme composed for the Expo 2000 in Hanover, featuring contributions from the UR artists. Their real names were not mentioned in the credits, but were hidden behind the numbers - 035, 038, 039 & 044, referring to the UR catalogue:
035 – DJ Rolando 038 – Mike Banks 039 – Andre Holland 044 – Gerald Mitchel
From 2002 onwards, Kraftwerk's live shows featured the group performing UR's remixes compiled in the song now called "Planet of Visions".
Discography
- Your Time Is Up
- Sonic
- The Final Frontier
- Waveform
- Nation 2 Nation
- The Prince Of Techno
- Living For The Night
- Gyroscopic
- Elimination
- Riot EP
- Nocturbulous Behavior
- Fuel For The Fire / Attend The Riot
- Sonic Destroyer
- G-Force
- UR015 Mad Mike / Octave One - Aztlan / DayStar Rising
- Living For The Night
- The Punisher
- The Fury
- M.I.A
- BX-A
- UR019.5 X-102 - Groundzero
- World 2 World
- Pirahna
- Crime Report
- Death Star
- Message To The Majors
- The Return of Acid Rain - The Storm Continues
- Galaxy 2 Galaxy
- Bubble Metropolis
- Black Moon Rising
- Acid Rain III
- Dark Energy
- Aquatic Attack
- Undetectable
- City Of Fear
- Electronic Warfare
- UR034 UR - Electronic Warfare the mixes
- The Aztec Mystic
- By Night
- The Return Of Drexciya
- Code Breaker
- I'm In
- Ambush
- Turning Point
- Condition Red EP
- Hardlife
- Interstellar Fugitives
- Antimatter Premium Unleaded / Frequency Snowstorm
- Speeding Like the Killer Bees
- Knights Of The Jaguar
- The Aztec Mystic Mix
- Hidden In Plainsight
- Don't You Want It
- UR 27R Venomous - The Toxin / The Charmer / Snake Talk
- Hi-Tech Jazz
- UR 31R Dark Paradise - Aurora / Black Strategy
- UR 040R UR - Analog Assassin / Subsonic Shadow
- Revenge Of The Jaguar
- Millennium To Millennium
- Inspiration / Transition
- URCD 3000-2 various mixed by DJ Rolando - Vibrations
Remixes
- 1991 Digital Boy – "This Is Mutha F**ker!"
- 1991 The Reese Project – "Direct Me"
- 1992 Bass Probe – "Mind Experiments"
- 1992 Chez Damier – "Can You Feel It"
- 1992 Ingator II – "Skyscratch (Mano Mano)"
- 1992 MåuriziöMaurizioMaurizio is an Italian masculine given name, derived from the Roman name Mauritius. Mauritius is a derivative of Maurus, meaning dark-skinned, Moorish.-Art and music:* Maurizio Arcieri , singer...
– "Ploy" - 1992 The Reese Project – "The Colour of Love"
- 1993 Seven Grand Housing Authority – "The Question"
- 1997 Rashid Salaam – "'D' Old Skool Dances"
- 2000 KraftwerkKraftwerkKraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
– "Expo 2000" - 2002 Model 600 – "Update"
- 2006 Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
– "People Are People"