Earth Hour 2010
Growing steadily every year since its kick off back in 2007, Earth Hour returns... [more]
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to listen to their music now on 
If you’re passionate about a genre, then to truly understand where it comes from, you really need to know its history. Over the years, I have accumulated a vast collection of books, DVDs, and CDs about the history of dance music, truly fascinated by its humble early beginnings in far-reaching parts of the globe such as the UK, USA and a small little island known as Ibiza. German techno, however is one area within the vast dance music genre that I had little knowledge about, that is until I came across an independent film titled We Call It Techno.
This highly informative and insightful independent documentary examines the history behind the Germany’s early rave and techno culture, focusing on the Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne scenes from pre to post-Wall Germany. We’re taken on a journey through the turbulent and igniting past, exploring how a group of like-minded music-lovers came together to in turn become DJs, promoters, label and record-store owners.
For 100 minutes, archival footage of still imagery, unreleased film and artwork (flyers, posters) from 1988-93 are spun together between amazing interviews with a who’s who from this period, including many names which are still synonymous with the scene today – Sven Väth, Riley Reinhold, Ata, Mijk van Dijk, DJ Hell, Cosmic Baby, Wolfgang Voigt, Elsa for Toys, Mike Ink., Jürgen Laarmann, Mark Reeder, Ralf Niemczyk, Tanith, Triple R, Upstart, Talla 2XLC, Wolle XDP and many more. Included also in this deep insight is commentary from those who were mere punters during this time plus tales from local journalists, who went on to write about the developing and emerging scene.
Directors/producers Maren Sextro and Holger Wick emphases techno’s DIY foundations, and portray a generation who in turn created a new scene through the inspiration by new sounds, new technologies and a changing political environment. The early 90s was the dawning of a new era for Germany in more ways than one, but it’s the music that changed a generation, and helped formed a new sound, club culture, and a new identity.
There are also numerous special features about a variety of specific topics for the music fan wanting more info and detail. I’d highly recommend watching these extras to gain further understanding and to add context to the main feature. Trainspotters may also notice – there’s even a sneak peak of a very young Paul van Dyk on the way to an early Love Parade. See if you can spot him!
We Call It Techno is a brilliant documentary that any true techno-lover will want to acquire. Another quality doco Hiteck Soul covers Detroit techno, whereas We Call It Techno follows the German path, the pair of them compliment each other in a way, exploring a past that helped create what we listen to today. The footage is awe-inspiring and I couldn’t help but get excited about this time, imagining how they all must have felt during this ground-breaking period. By the end of the movie, I was aching for a time-machine to take me back to relive it for myself. We Call It Techno is an educational film that any true dance music lover should watch. I can’t recommend it enough.
