Under The Influence with Perc

As a DJ, artist and owner of the excellent Perc Trax label (home to the likes of Mick Finesse, Forward Strategy Group and Truss), Perc is at the forefront of the UK’s industrial-tinged techno scene. His 2011 album ‘Wicker & Steel’ was a tour de force of panel-beaten dancefloor tackle,while also encompasing beatless sound washes and slo-mo tech sludge.

Industrial forebears like Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire et al have also had a huge influence on his material an unexpected collaboration with German noiseniks Einstürzende Neubauten appeared recently on the “Interpretations EP” via Submit Records.

Managing to be reverential and iconoclastic at the same time, it’s clearly a labour of love for Wells, who’s spoken of his love for the ‘Kollaps‘ album from which his source material was derived. ‘Rivieradub’ is the closest to his trademark sound but even then it’s refracted through Nebauten’s warped prism.

We managed to catch up with Perc and find out about the influential tracks that helped to shape his sound, ranging from classic rave from the likes of Acen through to Nine Inch Nails and the timeless early drum n bass of Photek.

Under The Influence with Perc

Mescalium United – We Have Arrived (Aphex Twin TTQ Mix)

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Modern day techno and especially the bulk of recent industrial techno lacks any sort of groove, yet this remix by Richard James is dripping in groove and rhythm yet hurtles along at a frenetic pace.

It’s harder to create a groove in faster music, yet 20 years ago this managed it effortlessly.

Cabaret Voltaire – Kneel To The Boss

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I talk about this track all the time but it captures everything the Cabs are about. An urban grime runs through their sound and somehow they get an amazing amount of emotional mileage out of two looping chords.

Not all industrial music is dark and ominous and this is the perfect example something that fits into the industrial canon but steers clear of what have now become the genre’s clichés.

Joey Beltram – Forklift

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Around the time of the Places album on Tresor and the JB3 album on Novamute Beltram was untouchable and his tracks from this era are still amongst the greatest works of techno.

His kicks and snares, the sparseness of his arrangements and the attitude that runs through all his music from this era are so inspiring.

Ed Rush & Nico – Technology

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As with many of these artists I could choose one of many tracks but for me this one carries the essence of their sound.

Simon Reynolds’ piece on the No U Turn studios in his book Energy Flash paints such a vivid picture of the atmosphere there and sometimes I feel the same vibe late at night at Perc Trax.

Acen – Trip II The Moon (Part 2)

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Rave had everything from production geniuses to bandwagon jumpers that could barely loop a piano riff over a sampled break. Acen falls into the former camp and along with Liam Howlett is amongst those whose work from that era still stands up to close inspection now.

‘There are more ideas in this track than most producers manage in a career’ as one very famous DJ once said to me about this.

Autechre – Second Bad Vibel

Broken beat noise techno way ahead of its time, which also fits into the IDM sound without any of the virtuoso displays of programming that turns me off from so much ‘intelligent’ electronic music.

Devastating in a club.

Nine Inch Nails – Wish

There is no one like Trent Reznor and maybe one is enough. A world-class rock front man with studio expertise to match the best dance music producers. ‘Wish’ is the right mix of noise, rock dynamics and electronic noise to keep me happy and was a big influence on ‘A New Brutality’.

Surgeon – Midnight Club Tracks

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Surgeon at maybe his most club-friendly yet still melding together a whole host of ideas and themes that run across all the tracks. Body music done to perfection.

Pete Swanson – Misery Beat

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A recent discovery compared with some of the other artists listed here but Pete’s single mindedness and clear vision of the music he wants to make is so inspiring. Simple pulsing rhythms as a vehicle to carry waves of ever evolving noise.

He is one artist that I really can’t get enough of right now and it is an honour to have him releasing something on my Submit label soon.

Photek – U.F.O

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Photek’s early years produced a stream of genius productions. The rhythm programming is so clinical yet sounds so natural and few have got near it since.

I love the pads that he and other similar d&b producers float over the introductions of their tracks. Instant atmosphere.

Perc also recently turned in this brilliant mix for Soma’s Slam Radio and we recommend getting your ears around it asap.