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The Hacker - And Now
Released May 2006 (US) / July 2006 (UK)
In the world of music, there are those that follow all the trends and latest sounds, hopping opportunistically to the next big thing once a goldmine has been plundered. Then there are those who remain loyal to their aspirations, with their periods of doubt followed by moments, often more fleeting and unexpected, of public unveiling and criticism. Loyalty and integrity form part of the qualities that might best be used to describe Michel Amato, aka The Hacker, often nicknamed "man of shadows".
At the end of the 1980’s, strongly influenced by Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Cure, Cabaret Voltaire, DAF, Throbbing Gristle and even Einstürzende Neubauten, Michel started a New Wave rock band. When he discovered the first wave of successful house music, including S-Express, M/A/R/R/S and Inner City, he left his group, convinced that this music would change everything. He started to mess around with a few tracks on some rudimentary equipment, and LFO and Belgian techno were like a wake-up call to him. From this point onwards, Michel started to produce techno tracks purely for his own pleasure, finally proving himself as a serious artist when he mixed music for the energetic Jeff Mills.
He took on the name of "The Hacker" in homage to a track by the Master of Detroit.. The Hacker set up his own label with his friend Oxia, otherwise known as Goodlife in reference to one of Kevin Saunderson’s first big hits.
An accomplished producer, The Hacker is also an expert DJ. "A.N.D. N.O.W" is his long-awaited second CD of mixes. The Grenoble-born genius offers us an eclectic musical sampler, with lots of new electro-techno tracks
The mixes are all performed on the decks and recorded pure, without using a computer, asserting once and for all the artistic performance that is DJing. This collection is a perfect sample of the Hacker’s current sets.
Notstandskomitee "Uhrwerkwelt" kicks off with much more than just a tongue-twister, the severely distorted acid stabs slowly build on this techy intro. "Could I Kill You" by the cuddly Miss Yetti and the instant melodic techno starts to ooze into the mix. The Revolving Eyes lighten up with the harmonious-hands-up sounds of "Space Model". Just when you thought it was safe to stop tapping, the dark and twisted body swyaer "Brain Is Lost" by Ellen Allien kicks in.
Easing the pace again is the groovy breaks tune "Techno Music" by Model 500. The Hacker’s own "Flesh & Bone" features Perspects and inevitably takes things in a harder direction. Kimo & Gino’s "Oddyssey" transports you to another world. "Pure" by GTO keeps you there with an incredible Battle Of The Bass Remix leading into the ambient enhancing sounds of "Link 1" by The Hacker, a computerised classic for real.
A moving way to complete a mesmerising mix album, looking for reinvention in stylish tuneful techno, then step right up - this could be it.
The Hacker And Now Track Listings
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