The movie, Paris/Berlin: 20 Years of Underground Techno, traces the trajectory of the underground techno movement in Berlin and Paris. It is comprised of interviews with DJs, producers, and shop owners whose voices are accompanied by archive footage of the techno scenes in two cities. Among the figures interviewed are Laurent Garnier, Ancient Methods, Adam X, Lucy, Kareem, Nick Höppner, and Tobias Rapp.
Although Paris and Berlin come together in the title, the movie puts more focus on the latter, and the reason behind this seems to uneven development and popularity of techno culture in the two cities. The movie starts with an emphasis on the long history of electronic music in Germany, dating back to Kraftwerk and Stockhausen. It has a vibrant techno scene that emerged in the unification years and with the possibilities of the state of chaos in the city. The techno scene in Paris, on the other hand, was not as developed during the 90s despite the existence of some notable events and clubs such as the Rex due to strict controls and policing. Unlike Paris, Berlin enjoys, first, the post-Wall authority lack, then, governors’ recognition that the nightlife is a significant factor in attracting people to the city.
While Berlin is admired as a unique hub for techno, the movie, through the people it features, stresses the challenges of commercialization of the genre and the rise of DJs as ‘rock star’-like figures. In this regard, it, at some points, highlights the importance of preserving the rebel and raw roots of techno, which is why the genre is best experienced in its underground, faceless form.
Spotify Playlist
Movie LP
https://www.decks.de/track/various_artists-paris-berlin_20_years_of_underground_techno/c3k-w8
