THE BUNKER | Moritz Von Oswald/ Vril (LIVE)/ Kettenkarussell (LIVE)/ Konstantin at Output, Derek Plaslaiko/ Mike Servito/ Nikola Baytala in The Panthe

Moritz, also known as Maurizio, is one of the most influential producers of techno music in the 1990s. In the 1980s he was percussionist for Palais Schaumburg, but would segue into electronic music by the late 80’s and early 90’s. First as 3MB (with Thomas Fehlmann), he co-founded Basic Channel Records (with Mark Ernestus), whose various releases came to epitomize minimal techno. Living in Berlin, he was also part of a music scene that pivoted around the Tresor club and record label, as well as Hardwax, a record store. Von Oswald’s epic M series of records are characterized by a 4x4 beat with dub-inflected syncopated synth pads, slowly modulated over time. Like the Basic Channel records, each 12” had tracks that took up the entire side of each record. His work was highly influential for that of Richie Hawtin, Thomas Brinkmann, Robert Henke (aka Monolake), Wolfgang Voigt, and later through artists whose records were released on the equally influential Chain Reaction Records. His current work as Rhythm & Sound fuses his interests in dub reggae and techno even further, where Jamaican vocalists sing or speak over stripped down techno beats and bass.


Mike Servito is a DJ's DJ — a lifelong music fanatic with a truly
unique ability to move a dance floor. Fearless in his seamless
transitions from one style to another, Servito has an unpredictability
and a deep trust in his music knowledge that has garnered him a cult
following over the years.

Although Servito is a New York transplant, his DJ style is
unmistakably Detroit. Inspired by Detroit radio of the '80s and the
city's local DJs in the '90s, Servito came of age in a flourishing
electronic music scene, making his debut in 1995 and immediately
gaining attention and the respect of his peers and local

techno heroes. After a brief hiatus, Servito was lured back through
the vigorous encouragement of his close friend Magda. He returned to
the DJ realm in 2002, redefining himself and finding inspiration in
the new generation of electronic-music producers and DJs.


DJ Nikola Baytala has become a crucial component of the minimal-techno collective known as Kontrol. But don't typecast him as a one-dimensional droid with a M-nus Records logo tattoo. He's been exploring the upper echelons of the techno/house continuum since the early '90s (including the last 10 years at The Top, a weekly event hosted by S.W.A.T., aka Special Weapons and Tactics), gaining a reputation as a DJ's DJ, with acclaim coming from house-music legends like Derrick Carter and Doc Martin. Moreover, Baytala's list of musical influences and loves is vast, eclectic, and impeccable. The following roll call just scratches the surface: dub/reggae (Lee "Scratch" Perry), jazz (Pharoah Sanders), world (Ravi Shankar, Mulatu Astatke), funk (Cymande), soul (Bill Withers), hiphop (Gang Starr), Krautrock (Can), electro (Egyptian Lover, Kraftwerk), disco (DJ Harvey), Latin (Tito Puente), soundtrack/new age (Vangelis), rock (Steely Dan), post-punk (ESG, Liquid Liquid), and post-rock (Outhud). As for his bread and butter, Baytala similarly displays excellent judgment, with a heavy preference for quality-pushers like Jeff Mills, Gas, Monolake, Robert Hood, Theo Parrish, and Mr. Fingers. When you see a DJ possess such wide-ranging, outstanding taste, it instills confidence that he/she will rarely, if ever, veer into wackness. Baytala clearly has put many hours of study into his craft, and it's paid off with smooth mixes and world-class track selection. Besides his formidable technical skills and profound knowledge, Baytala reportedly exudes a lot of personality and passion behind the decks, which must have served him well while opening for acts like Jane's Addiction. Everything I've heard by Baytala suggests that his sets avoid the supposed pitfalls of minimal dance music. They're kinetic, dynamic, and, of course, cheese-free. I can't believe I've only just recently found out about this mensch.