With just a few clicks, we now have access to countless songs and albums. So why is the vinyl record still so popular? Is it because of the physical nature of the object, the unique sound, the rarity of certain records, or their collectible value? What’s certain is that, as a physical object, it carries traces and tells stories beyond the music itself. This record tells a story of the Detroit–Berlin axis.
The record “Party Race” was released in 1987 on Metroplex Records, the label Juan Atkins founded in Detroit in 1985. He released his music under various projects, including Flintstones and Model 500. All three names appear on this record: Juan Atkins as producer and as one of the artists, Flintstones as the performer, and Model 500 as another alias under which he released his music. The catalogue number M-010 also indicates that “Party Race” was the label’s tenth release. The number written in pencil, on the other hand, is a trace left by the museum: it’s the object number under which the record was catalogued and entered into our collection.
Detroit techno of the 1980s was shaped decisively by Black musicians and DJs, who combined African American musical traditions such as funk and soul with electronic sounds. Juan Atkins is considered one of the genre’s pioneers, and he also inspired Berlin’s music scene.
From the late 1980s onward, Detroit techno found its way to Berlin through records like “Party Race.” Record shops such as Hard Wax imported the music, making it accessible to Berliners for the first time. The connection between Detroit and Berlin deepened further with the opening of Tresor in 1991. DJs like Juan Atkins played in Berlin, collaborated with local musicians, and released music on Tresor Records. The Detroit–Berlin axis thus gave rise to a musical exchange that enriched Berlin’s techno scene and shaped its club culture.
Subcultural networks and communities will also be the subject of our event “Community Archiv(ing)s” this Thursday, October 8, starting at 6:30 pm. The panel discussion with Bianca Ludewig and Lukas Fuchsgruber takes place as part of the presentation “Club Kultur Bestand Aufnahme” and the festival week TAG DER CLUBKULTUR. Admission is free.
