Permanent waves

>> Reviving electro under the Christmas tree

by KRISTA

What were you doing 20 years ago? I was eight and had just discovered Blondie and off-the-shoulder sweatshirts. I saved up my allowance for a whole month so I could go to the Fairview mall and buy their album The Best of Blondie. It contained all the important hits--"Heart of Glass," "The Tide Is High," "One Way or Another"--and it made me feel incredibly cool.

Ironically, earlier this year I, along with a large percentage of the population, rediscovered Blondie, as well as off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, Members Only jackets, mullets, mohawks, legwarmers and a plethora of new nu-wave and electro music. However, though the fashion world only made it cool by turning it into a resurgent trend earlier this year, electro and nu-wave music have been enjoying a truly underground existence for several years. Key labels in the genre like Gigolo records and Ersatz Audio, who have been cranking out campy electronica since the mid-'90s, have emerged to breathe new life back into an almost forgotten sound.

Now, while this trend may not last longer than a few more months before it morphs into another incarnation, the labels making the music will undoubtedly continue to pump out their robot rock and breakbeat techno for years to come. If you're having trouble finding that authentic '80s-inspired sound of electro and nu wave then here are a few tips to help you navigate your way through the concrete jungle.

The most important source for electro right now has to be Munich's International Deejay Gigolo records. Created by DJ Hell back in 1995 as a subsidiary of his Disko B imprint, Gigolo has an impressive catalogue of solid techno and electro tunes. Look for their Gigolo 5 double-CD compilation. You can also check out Tiga's mix CD homage to the label, American Gigolo, on Turbo Recordings.

Another key player in the genre is the man behind the Psi49Net label, Anthony Rother. You can look for his releases on more obscure labels like Kanzleramt and Monostress, but to save yourself the stress of having to special order something that may never appear simply look for his Little Computer People album on his Psi49net imprint.

Finally, to find the funky tech-electro being produced Stateside, just take look at what's going on in the Motor City, the birthplace of quality techno in North America. Detroit's Ersatz Audio have also been releasing topnotch electro-inspired tunes since the mid-'90s. Look for their Future Sound of Tomorrow compilation CD.