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Musical Background
Detroit has a long history of musical innovation. Since the first mass migration of African-Americans from the Deep South in the early 20th century, Detroit's musical heritage has been second to none.
Label's like Motown pioneered Detroit's reputation, releasing records from the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.
Influences
The influences of Detroit techno are wide and varied: Ambient/Minimalism (Stockhausen), Kraut Rock (Kraftwerk), Synth Pop (New Order and Depeche Mode), Jazz (Herbie Hancock), Electro (Afrika Bambaata) along with Chicago House (Marshall Jefferson et al)
The First Wave
The first techno classic was probably Cybotron - "Clear" a futuristic electro track which broke the mould. Juan Atkins (one of the members of Cybotron) has since been grouped with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson as the true originators of the genre.
Derrick May as Rhythim is Rhythim recorded the seminal "Strings of Life" in 1989 (a young Carl Craig also collaborated) mean while Kevin Saunderson was working under a number of aliases principally as "Reese" and "Inner City" under the latter recording pop classics like "Good Life" and "Big Fun" which reached the top ten in most charts around the world.
Around this time the first big compilation "Detroit Techno City" was released and things went stellar. However this was the scene's peak, one it is yet to relive. As the genre became more popular the European copyists moved in (remember Technotronic); these cynical commercial exercises did more to damage to technos reputation than anything else. The fact that most producers weren't media friendly and didn't dance well mean't real techno slipped out of the mainstream.
The Underground
Whilst the more accessible producers were flirting with stardom, a group of challenging conceptual artists were working on more experimental productions. The original Underground Resistance line up of Mills, Banks and Hood started to make some very dark and imaginative music, the X101-3 series on German label Tresor being fine examples of the style.
Mills and Hood left UR to develop their own more minimal style. Banks however continued as the figurehead of UR and bought a political agenda to the music dealing with issues that affected Detroit: urban decay, poverty and racism. His style is impossible to pin down ranging from the dark acid of "Journey to the Martian Polar Cap" to the disco/house/funk of his most recent "Millenium 2 Millenium"
Minimalism
The most common criticism levelled at techno is its repetitiveness or minimal nature. The minimal movement pioneered by Jeff Mills and Robert Hood is built on textures and building rhythms requiring a certain mind state to enjoy, one often found whilst using E (though this is not compulsory), classic tracks include Roberts Hoods "Rhythm" and "Pace" other exponents include Jeff Mills aka The Purpose Maker and Richie Hawtin (Plastikman).
This style inspired many European producers who now dominate the scene. UK artists like The Advent, Luke Slater, Steve Bicknell, Surgeon, Oliver Ho, Ben Simms and Swedish bods like Cari Lekebusch and Adam Beyer now have a monopoly on crunching, minimal distorted grooves, this style is currently what you are most likely to hear in clubs around the UK.
The Present
If you haven't got a turntable get one. Most new releases are only on 12" and many never end up on CD. The Planet E label is probably the best starting point. Carl Craig label owner and brains behind Innerzone Orchestra (signed to UK label Talk'in Loud which in turn is run by Giles Peterson) has one of the best ears for new artists. The likes of Recloose, Common Factor, Agent X and Ibex are all releasing excellent tunes at the minute. Experimental but funky, minimal is one thing they are not.
The Recent "Knights of the Jaguar" by DJ Rolando is the first commercial success Detroit has had for some time and it's well deserved, being a top notch, string led anthem of LARGE proportions. Having taken Ibiza by storm it has been caught in a bit of controversy; as Sony when refused the licence to re-release it did a hammy cover to get their dollar, very dodgy (mycal.net/ifj/ur/index.shtml - go here and sign the pissed list). "...Jaguar" was originally released on UR (Underground Resistance) in 1999, it is has just been re-released by them with a load of remixes. Another release on UR, the "Interstellar Fugitives" LP is well worth checking out.
This guide is no way comprehensive and I have only looked at a small percentage the producers around at the minute. Other names that would warrant investigation are: Shaun Rudiman, Drexiya, Sean Deason, Terrence Dixon, Kit Clayton, Theorem, Gerard Mitchell, Stacey Pullen, Wild Planet, Aux 88, Octave One, Jay Denham and Claude Young (and many more).
The best way to keep up to date with the scene is to sign up to the Hyperreal 313 mailing list www.hyperreal.org/music/lists/313, as you get news direct from Detroit itself and can have discussions about artists, labels and events.