Jeff Mills

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Mills at a gig (2007)
Mills in Paris (2014)

Jeff Mills (* 18th June 1963 in Detroit , Michigan ) is an American techno - DJ and musician . He is considered one of the most important representatives of Detroit techno .

Life

In 1987 Jeff Mills started as a hip-hop DJ under the name "The Wizard" on his weekly radio show on the Detroit broadcaster WJBL. From 1988 he produced together with Anthony Srock industrial music under the name Final Cut . A little later he founded the music label Underground Resistance , together with Robert Hood and Mike Banks , whose publications defined and significantly shaped Detroit techno. Since 1989 Mills has also produced his first records solo.

After an argument with Mike Banks, Mills moved to New York in 1991 and founded his own label, Axis Records. He also produced for the Berlin label Tresor Records and at that time found a home in Berlin. In 1992, Axis opened a branch in Detroit, but it was closed again that same year. A year later Mills left New York and moved his label to Chicago . In 1995 Mills introduced his new sub-label Purpose Maker . In December 2001, another sub-label was launched with Axis 9.

In 2000, the American released a techno version of the soundtrack of Fritz Lang's film Metropolis from 1926 on Tresor Records. The “gaunt man”, as the specialist press often calls him, discovered his love of film dubbing. Some critics accuse Mills of having dismembered the film too much. This work is highly praised by others. 2005 set to music it " The Three Ages " by Buster Keaton , originally built in 1923 On July 2, 2005 Mills has performed with the Orchestra of Montpellier at the Pont du Gard on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the structure for UNESCO - World Heritage Site . For the first time since the Underground Resistance era, the DJ gave a live act. Mills acted in the midst of a top-class classical orchestra mainly with his Roland TR 909 . Many of his classics such as "The Bells" as well as the original songs "Amazon" and "Sonic Destroyer" have been reinterpreted. The DVD of the recording was released by Tresor in 2006 under the name Blue Potential .

His releases on the Axis label are a mixture of the slightly gloomy atmosphere of Detroit techno and a turn to futuristic, experimental structures. Their typical sound set them apart from other publications for a long time and gave them a high recognition value. Releases on the Purpose Maker label are more oriented towards techno clubs and are functional and therefore very popular with techno DJs. The track “The Bells”, which appeared on the “Kat Moda EP” (catalog number PM-002), is one of his greatest hits.

As a DJ, Jeff Mills is known for his fast, spontaneous mixing style. He often changes the records every minute and simply throws the used discs behind him. "X-103 - Atlantis" was added to The Wire's "100 Records That Set The World On Fire (While No One Was Listening)" list.

Discography

Albums
  • 1992: Jeff Mills - Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (Tresor)
  • 1994: Jeff Mills - Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (Tresor)
  • 1996: Jeff Mills - Purpose Maker Compilation (Purpose Maker)
  • 1999: Jeff Mills - From The 21st (SMEJ Associated Records)
  • 2000: Jeff Mills - Metropolis (safe)
  • 2000: Millsart - Every Dog Has Its Day Vol. 1 (Music Man Records)
  • 2001: Millsart - Every Dog Has Its Day Vol. 2 (Axis)
  • 2001: Jeff Mills - At First Sight (True People)
  • 2001: Jeff Mills - Time Machine (Tomorrow)
  • 2002: Millsart - Every Dog Has Its Day Vol. 3 (Axis)
  • 2004: Jeff Mills - Three Ages (MK2 Music)
  • 2005: Jeff Mills - Blue Potential (Live With Montpellier Philharmonic Orchestra) (UWe)
  • 2006: Jeff Mills - One Man Spaceship (Axis)
  • 2009: Jeff Mills - Sleeper Wakes (Third Ear)
  • 2009: Jeff Mills - Niteroi (Axis)
  • 2010: Jeff Mills - The Occurrence (Third Ear)
  • 2010: Jeff Mills - The Drummer 26 (Purpose Maker)
  • 2011: Jeff Mills - Fantastic Voyage (Axis)
  • 2011: Jeff Mills - 2087 (Axis)
  • 2011: Jeff Mills - The Power (Axis)
  • 2012: Jeff Mills - The Messenger (Axis)
  • 2013: Jeff Mills - The Jungle Planet (Axis)
  • 2013: Jeff Mills - Where Light Ends (U / M / A / A Inc.)
  • 2014: Jeff Mills - Chronicles Of Possible Worlds (Axis)
  • 2017: Jeff Mills - The Planets (Axis)

Web links

Commons : Jeff Mills  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files
personal data
SURNAME Mills, Jeff
ALTERNATIVE NAMES The Wizard (pseudonym); Millsart (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American techno DJ and musician
DATE OF BIRTH June 18, 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH Detroit , Michigan , United States