A week ago, as the grand finale to Tec-Troit 2024, techno trailblazer Claude Young came out of retirement to deliver a truly touching final DJ set for the Detroit locals and fellow DJs that shaped his career.
The resulting set was a triumphant 2-hour celebration of dance music's eclectic history. The techno architect poignantly capped off a multi-decade career, touching on various subgenres with a sense of cohesive finesse. Weaving a rich tapestry, Young connected the dots between Jean Luc Ponty, Kraftwerk, Surgeon, and Kate Bush in a way that only a true master of the craft could (I also thought I heard the industrial thunder of Nitzer Ebb and the dubby Porter Ricks in there, but can't reliably confirm the track IDs). Though I knew Young would deliver a great set, I could not have foreseen just how special and truly moving the experience would be. Perhaps the most touching moment was when he dropped the needle on one of his most iconic tracks, "Ancelyn."
In the days since his set, it's been difficult grappling with what Young leaving the scene means. As an individual, few DJs had as much heart and enthusiasm for their craft. Additionally, as a selector, Claude brought a totally idiosyncratic vibe to his sets-- one that was by turns experimental and highly danceable. But on a broader level, Young's decision to stop playing reflects more macro shifts and rising concerns in the techno scene. After all, Claude lost joy in DJing because of his growing dissatisfaction with how the scene now prioritizes hype, social media clout, and trendiness over skillful mixing techniques and unique selection. His discontent is valid, and it's something that we wish to combat in our coverage here at Motormouth. His retirement begs a sorrowful question: what other architects will we lose due to the music's commercialization and the talent's commodification?
We are truly grateful to Young for gracing us with one more reminder of his unparalleled genius. As Tec Troit's Moses Malone noted in an interview, "He's doing this because it's Detroit, for Detroit, and he wants to give his hometown one last show before he officially stops playing out. He's turned down other events but made an exception for us, which makes us feel special." Indeed, it made us feel special too. Claude's charismatic 120 minutes on the decks made for one of the best sets of the year, one we aren't bound to forget any time soon.
This past week when we recorded episode 29 of Motormouth, we ended the episode with Young's "Dream of Another Time". It was challenging to sum up his legacy, and impossible to overstate his influence. From working at the highly influential Record Time alongside Dan Bell to founding Frictional Records with Anthony "Shake" Shakir and developing the minimal techno sound, to emerging as one of the most technically skilled DJs in the world and establishing himself as a key player in the UK (Glasgow specifically) and Tokyo, his career was immense.
Still struggling to come to grips with the immensity of Young's departure in a way that does him justice, I'll just leave it at this:
Thank you for your service, Mayor. Enjoy a peaceful retirement, Claude, you earned it.
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