Max HeyraudAs the techno community mourns the loss of one of its founding fathers, we look back at ten of Juan Atkins’ most formative records.
From his early, pre-techno productions alongside Rick Davis as Cybotron, to the Model 500 releases that helped define the genre, his work under the Infiniti moniker and his collaborations with Tresor, these records trace a lifetime dedicated to pushing electronic music forward.
We wouldn’t be here without Juan. The originator, the godfather, the pioneer. A true innovator whose influence spanned generations and whose commitment to music never wavered.
As Juan himself once said: “I’m going to be making music ’til I leave this planet, and then maybe for some time afterwards too.”
This is a celebration of that spirit, and a tribute to the one and only Juan Atkins.
Cybotron – Alleys Of Your Mind [1981]
Cybotron, consisting of Juan Atkins and Rick Davis, laid the blueprint for what would become techno with their 1981 debut, “Alleys of Your Mind.” It was techno before the genre was even coined as such. Legendary.
Cybotron – Clear [1983]
Arguably one of the most important records in the history of electronic music. It laid the groundwork for both early electro and techno, blending the futuristic sounds of Kraftwerk with the funk-driven grooves of Parliament-Funkadelic.
Cybotron – Techno City [1984]
An essential inclusion, particularly because of its connection to the word “techno” itself. Often cited as a seminal moment in the development of Detroit electro and techno, the record helped popularise the term within electronic music culture. Forty-two years on, it still sounds like the future.
Model 500 – No UFO’s [1985]
Following his departure from Cybotron, Juan Atkins launched his solo project, Model 500, and founded Metroplex Records. Released in 1985, “No UFOs” is widely regarded as one of techno’s defining origin points. Its inclusion on the 1988 Techno City compilation helped establish the genre’s name internationally. Atkins was clear: what Detroit was creating was not Chicago house. It was something entirely new.
Model 500 – The Chase [1989]
A defining anthem that helped capture the Model 500 sound and the evolution of techno. The sound was becoming increasingly hypnotic and driving, moving away from traditional song structures and towards the repetitive, loop-driven approach that would become more closely associated with the genre.
Infiniti – Game One [1994]
Juan’s Infiniti moniker showcased a more stripped-back, club-focused approach, built around harder-hitting drums without ever losing that unmistakable Detroit swing and soul. “Game One”, produced in collaboration with Dutch techno pioneer Orlando Voorn, captures this progression perfectly.
Model 500 – I Wanna Be There [1994]
One of the most beautiful and soulful productions in Juan Atkins’ catalogue, “I Wanna Be There” reveals a more emotional and tender side to his work. It reminds us that behind the machines and futuristic concepts was an artist with a remarkable understanding of melody, emotion and musical storytelling.
Infiniti – Skyway [1998]
A pivotal moment in the Berlin–Detroit connection came in 1998, when Juan Atkins released Skynet on Tresor. Having already issued several records on the label alongside fellow Detroit pioneers, this marked a significant milestone: one of techno’s originators delivering an album for a label helping define the genre’s modern sound.
Juan Atkins – Track Ten [2004]
By 2004, it had been some time since Atkins had released music under his own name. “Track Ten”, released via UK label New Religion, marked a return to the soulful sound he had long been associated with. Fresh, adventurous and unmistakably the work of an originator.
Juan Atkins & Moritz Von Oswald present Borderlands – Lightyears [2016]
When two of electronic music’s most influential figures come together, the result is bound to attract attention. Longtime collaborators, Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald continued to shape techno decades after first emerging. Their return to Tresor felt particularly fitting, bringing the Berlin–Detroit connection full circle.