デトロイトテクノ第2世代の代表的アーティストKenny Larkin。1980年代後半、Juan AtkinsやDerrick May、Kevin Saundersonといったデトロイトテクノのオリジネーター、そしてTRAXを中心とするシカゴハウスからの影響も強く受け音楽制作を開始。デトロイト、そしてシカゴサウンドをミックスした独自のサウンドを追求し好評を得る。1990年にはRichie HawtinのレーベルPlus 8から'We Shall Overcome'と'Integration'をリリース。その後Derrick MayのレーベルであるTransmatからDark Comedy名義で'War Of The Worlds'をリリースし世界的評価を得る。1994年にはWARP、そしてR&Sよりアルバムを発表、Carl CraigやJeff Millsと並びヨーロッパにて大成功を納める。また、自身のレーベル'Art Of Dance'を設立し、自身の作品を中心に多数の作品を発表している。2001年6月、Kennyは地元デトロイトを離れLAに移住。移住後直ちにレコーディングを開始し、2枚の新しいアルバムを完成させる。その一枚目の作品はPeacefrogレーベルから、Kenny Larkin 名義のテクノアルバム'Narcissist'。そしてもう一枚の作品はDJ Yellowが立ち上げた話題の新レーベルPoussez!から、Dark Comedy名義のTechno & Bluesともいうべき傑作'FUNK FAKER - Muisc Saves My Soul'。ほぼ7年ぶりにリリースされるDark Comedy名義のアルバムは、今までの作品とは全く異なる内容であり、まさに新境地に至ったKenny Larkinの姿がそこにある。 そして、2005年、初のベスト盤をリリース。これまでのキャリアを総括したアルバムでありながら、同時にテクノ／エレクトロミュージックの未来を提示する作品となることは間違いない。
Kenny Larkin is one of the chief innovators of Detroit’s so called ‘second wave’ of techno producers from Detroit.
He began his music career in 1990. After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force repairing computers, Larkin returned to Detroit to pursue stand up comedy. During his pursuit, he, along with other Detroit club goers, witnessed the birth of a new genre of music at local clubs. What came to be called “Detroit Techno,” thumped in clubs like; The City Club, The Majestic Theatre, The Shelter, and the legendary Music Institute. The latter considered home base for the bumping, sultry, emotive, yet almost romantic style of club music that rose out of urban plight, desperation, and decay.
Larkin mostly frequented The Shelter, were he soon hooked up with Richie Hawtin, who was one of the club’s resident dj’s, and the two became good friends. While driving around the city at night, they stumbled onto a local Detroit radio mix show. The dj creating the mind-blowing mixes that changed both of their lives was none other Derrick May, or “Mayday,” his call-name on the radio. May along with others, inspired both Larkin, and Hawtin to pursue this new form of music.
When Hawtin formed +8 with John Acquaviva, Larkin released his first two singles. But, it wasn’t until 1992, when he founded his own label, Art of Dance, that he came into his signature sound. Under his “Dark Comedy” moniker, Larkin created ‘War of the Worlds,’ which went on to become a seminal dance floor techno classic for Derrick May’s Transmat Records, of which Larkin licensed the project to. After contributing the exquisitely beautiful and sublime tracks ‘Serena X’ (under the name Yennek) for the compilation Panic in Detroit and ‘Tedra’ on the hugely innovative Virtual Sex (Buzz) compilation, Kenny was pushed to the forefront of techno’s soulful elite.
In 1994, Larkin shrewdly carved out his own classic sound when he signed to Warp Records, and released his first album, entitled Azimuth. The album was hailed by European and U.S. press as one of the most original techno albums to date.
Street Sound magazine later voted Azimuth as one of the top 50 Techno CD’s of all time.
Larkin’s music career seemed very bright, but tragedy struck when on November 17, 1994, he almost lost his life after being shot in his suburban Detroit home by two unknown assailants. Luckily, the bullet missed vital organs, but it sliced through his lower abdomen. After 12 hours of surgery, Larkin was in critical condition, but pulled through. Hospitalized only for 6 days, Larkin began touring just two weeks after he was discharged from the hospital to support his new album, Metaphor, which was released on R&S Records in February of 1995. The release earned him more accolades as a leader in electronic music.
Metaphor was nominated for best electronic album of the year in Keyboard Magazine. In his hometown, Metro Times voted Larkin ‘Best Techno Artist of The Year’ at it’s yearly music awards.
In addition to his own productions, Larkin lent his melodic sensibilities to various artists. He has done remix work for Carl Craig, Inner City, Charm Farm, L.A. Synthesis, and most notably, Sade. Although a bootleg, the remix of ‘Surrender’ sold 10,000 in 3 weeks. Apparently, Sade wasn’t amused. Her attorney contacted Larkin and demanded they stop selling the single, or face litigation. Larkin agreed, and stopped distributing the single.
Larkin’s remix for Charm Farm entitled, ‘Superstar’, shot up the charts in France, helping establish the band in Europe in the dance scene.
In 1997, Larkin released his first LP under his ‘Dark Comedy’ moniker. More striped down and minimal than his first two LP offerings, the project showed a darker side to his persona. ‘The Bar’, which was released as a single, was a favorite among techno’s elite dj’s, because of it’s frenetic beats, and purposely rough, off edits.
In 2002, after a break from music whilst getting his comedy career off the ground, Larkin’s desire to record music returned. With the new change of scenery and inspiration, Larkin began to record two albums at the same time. These would be his first projects in almost 8 years.The first completed album, Narcissist, was picked up by Peacefrog. Released in April, 2004, Larkin did what he always tried to do, which is go against the established perception of what techno should be. His signature sound still remains after such a long hiatus. Larkin has put focus more on mood, and melodies, instead of harsh, abrasive, non-melodic material that has defined techno for the last few years.
The second album Larkin completed late 2004, was under his Dark Comedy alias. This album took a huge departure from what others have come to expect from him. Instead of the stripped down production of his ‘7 Days’ outing, he decided to go in a totally different direction.
Upon hearing the album, record companies big and small lined up to sign it. Among the interested parties, Dan Keeling, A&R at Parlaphone/EMI UK, who discovered and signed Coldplay. Larkin decided to sign the album to a smaller label, in order to get as much attention as possible for this totally different genre-bending album. Poussez, a French label headed by Alain Ho (DJ Yellow) from Yellow Productions/France, convinced Larkin that they could provide what Larkin was looking for. Larkin signed the album, entitled: Dark Comedy;Music Saves My Soul. The first 12 inch was released in end of Nov.2004. The album was released June 2005 to much critical success.
In 2006, Larkin began work on his latest album, entitled Keys, Strings, Tambourines.
Larkin worked on it for nearly 1 ½ years, in various cities around the globe, during his hectic dj schedule. At the same time, he continually pursued his love for comedy, and comedy acting. In fact, early 2008, Larkin helped to co-produce, film, entourand play a supporting role in a mock reality comedy pilot, which they are currently shopping to various studios, and networks.
When his latest album was finished, Larkin had to decide what label to release his project on. He went no further than looking in his own small circle of contemporaries/friends, and tapped Carl Craig to release it on his legendary label, Planet e.
Craig, who is one of the most influential musicians in electronic music today, jumped at the chance to release it.
Released on Sep.22 of ’08, reviews of the album, once again established as one of the most relevant artists in the Detroit genre, even today. Some of the comments from various press outlets:
This album isn’t just a comeback for Larkin, whose playful techno creations took a back burner for the past few years to forays into acting and stand-up comedy, but for the kind of second-wave Detroit madness that Larkin was partially responsible for in the first place-POPMATTERS.COM
…it’s a warm fullness that’s so often missing from much of today’s techno. Much of the album is deep and emotional. Cinematic even..
…Berlin take note: techno is alive and well in the US of A!-IDJ ALBUM OF THE MONTH
By his own admission, Larkin states that although making music is one of his favorite passions, he also enjoys traveling the globe, as a dj. One would have to love travel to keep up with his busy schedule. He has flown nearly 3 million miles worldwide playing hundreds upon hundreds of gigs throughout his career. And with the new LP, Larkin plans to do something in 2009 he hasn’t done in close to 15 years. Play live!
Larkin shows no signs of slowing, and continues to leave his ever evolving, sometimes, eclectic electronic footprint, for past, present, and future generations to enjoy.
Kenny Larkin
