Bleep

Kenny Larkin’s debut album Azimuth was recognised as an essential Detroit techno LP pretty much as soon as Warp Records first released it back in 1994. Maintaining the momentum which had driven Larkin’s preceding EP drops for labels such as Transmat and Plus 8, Azimuth combines high-octane dancefloor energy with space-age synth textures in order to create a lively, bracing record. Art Of Dance’s new edition of Azimuth spreads the music across three vinyl for the LP pressing (two 12”s and an additional 10”).

There are some seminal dancefloor moments to be found on Azimuth. The stargazing snap of ‘Harmonics’ and ‘Wires’, ‘ESP’s hissing rhythm workout and the post-Kraftwerk acid malfunction ‘Doppler’ are about as good as it gets when it comes to golden-age Midwestern club music. These are the sort of roof-raising tools that no DJ bag should be without.

Larkin also laces some more contemplative joints in-between the bangers. The ominous sci-fi synthscape ‘Hello’ is a fine way to begin the record, setting the scene perfectly for what is about to follow. In the middle of the album Larkin brings the bpm down to a mid-tempo strut for the wonderfully wistful ‘Tedra’.

Kenny Larkin’s 1994 debut LP Azimuth receives a long-awaited reissue via the producer’s own Art Of Dance imprint.