Pressing Detroit 2012

Pressing Detroit 2012

Pressing Detroit 2012 was essentially a kind of “listening station” not dissimilar to the set up you might find in an independent record store. All records included as part of the installation were pressed and/or released in 2012 and included the word ‘Detroit’ either in the titles of the records themselves, within featured track titles or as part of the recording artists’ names. These records were shown along with a turntable, amp and headphones. I hoped that through the act of listening to the said records and/or studying the associated artwork on the sleeves/labels, listeners/viewers would consider the significance of Detroit as a place of diverse cultural production and as a specific point of reference to outsiders* for myriad reasons.

The auditory emphasis within the installation, together with a specific focus on the word ‘Detroit’, deliberately steered clear of the tired “ruin porn” images that are currently so often used to depict the city. On this point it is interesting to note how the records are housed in plain sleeves or feature artwork that does not include such visual clichés of urban decay.

* e.g. Detroit Swindle are from Amsterdam

Pressing Detroit 2012 (detail)

The following records formed part of the work Pressing Detroit 2012: 

Luca Ballerini & Rio Padice, Never Mess La Cricca, Waxjam, 2012 includes the track Detroit Bazaar (track B1 – although there is no track listing on the cover, label or run out groove area)

Faruq Z. Bey 4et, Live at the Detroit Art Space, Sagittarius A-Star, 2012

Blodfet & DJ Lonely, From Tuscany to Provence, Börft Records, 2012 – includes the track Detroit is tuff, but so are we, sweets

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. We Almost Lost Detroit EP, Warner Bros. Records Inc., 2012

Detroitrocketscience, Detroitrocketscience Vol 1, Detroitrocketscience, 2012

Detroitrocketscience, Detroitrocketscience Vol 2, Detroitrocketscience, 2012

Detroitrocketscience/Kuba Sojka, 300 miles above Neo-Detroit, Minimalsoul Recordings, 2012

Detroit Swindle, B.O.S.T.O.N., Murmur Records, 2012

Dilla Dog, Dillatroit, Ruff Draft Records, 2012 – includes the track Detroit Madness

Dimension, Digital World/Detroit (Ft. Cyantific), Cyantific Music, 2012

The Evergreens, The Green Folder, Terpsiton, 2012 – includes the track Detroit Evening

Kemetrix, Soulwerkz Detroit Presents: Soulbrother #3, Pomelo Records, 2012

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80, Live in Detroit 1986, Knitting Factory Records/Strut Records, 2012

Optic Nerve, Detropolis EP, Puzzlebox, 2012 – includes the track Detropolis (Detroit Vocal Mental Mix)

Professor Inc. Natural Evolution EP, Rue De Plaisance Records, 2012 – includes the track Detroit Baby

Karriem Riggins, Alone, Stones Throw Records, 2012 – includes the track From Detroit/Belle Isle

Society of Silence, Signifying Monkey, Society of Silence, 2012 – includes the track Beat Reading Detroit (A and B sides are mislabelled)

Norm Talley, The Riviere D’etroit, Rue De Plaisance, 2012

Andras Toth, Would U?, Alphahouse, 2012 – includes the track Detroit Echo Tool

Two Armadillos, Golden Age Thinking Part 3, Two Armadillos, 2012 – includes the track Detroit Dancer

Unknown Artist, Long Distance to Detroit 02, Long Distance to Detroit, 2012 (the words Long Distance to Detroit are etched in the run out groove area)

Various Artists, Essential Detroit Blues, Not Now Music Limited, 2012

Various Artists, In The Dark: The Soul Of Detroit, Still Music, 2012

Various Artists, KMS 25th Anniversary Classics Sampler 03, 2012 – includes Phil Agosta Tribute to Detroit (Agent X Motor City Remix)

Various Artists, WPH Summer Sampler 2012, We Play House Recordings, 2012 – includes Alex & The Grizzly Detroit/Berlin – San Soda’s Lazer Remix (tracklisting etched in the run out groove area)

Rick Wade, Detroit Fury EP, Hizou, 2012

DJ W!ld, We Almost Lost Detroit EP, W, 2012

Many thanks to the following: Alex at Stones Throw Records, Andrew at Alphahouse Records, Art at Pomelo Records, Bart at We Play House Recordings, Sander Bekeschus, Dennis at Terpsiton, Detroit Swindle, Glenn at Not Now Music Ltd, T.J. Hicks at Minimalsoul Recordings, James at Mahogani  Music, Jamie at Cyantific Music, Jan at Börft Records, Jerome at Still Music,  Jerry at Warner Bros. Records Inc., Justin at Mute, Luca at Waxjam, Jonas Ohlsson, Alan Oldham, Sagittarius A-Star, Kuba Sojka, Society of Silence, Varoslav at Rue De Plaisance Records and Rick Wade. Apologies if anyone has inadvertently been left out.

Pressing Detroit 2012 (detail showing back wall)