It’s hard to conceive just how talented Jeff Mills actually is

I discovered proper techno just over a year ago at 18 (20 now) on my first solo backpacking trip round Europe. Grace Dahl DJing at club Perron was my first taste of what true techno was and throughout my trip visiting the local clubs I further listened to some amazing DJs showcase techno beyond the standard hard techno I was so accustomed to. I was honing my ability to mix records at the time but was totally loyal to jungle and drum and bass I was raised on only, hard techno did nothing for me.

It wasn’t until I found a rogue USB on the floor of a basement club in Bratislava did my view on techno change forever. Once I plugged in the USB out of curiosity I found 2 pivotal tracks that changed my life, Digeridoo by Aphex Twin & most importantly The Bells. I had no idea what the track was and who Jeff Mills was but I was captivated by these frequencies I had never heard before (admittedly I didn’t even know this music was techno)

For the most part going through Jeff’s discography I wasn’t most impressed by his tracks alone, as a jungle DJ there were no big drops, cool samples and wild basslines - just rolling drums and groove. It was only after hopping onto YouTube and witnessing Jeff Mills set at The Wire 2003 did everything change.

It’s almost unfathomable the almost robotic speed and efficiency at which Jeff juggles 3 turntables. Beatmatching the complex grooves and polyrhythms effortlessly on the wax for almost 2 hours on stage in front of hundreds if not thousands of people’s throughout his set with little to know expression or fault. Then proceeding to beat match the 909 to the records before pulling off solos that turn the tiny plastic machine into a fully functioning live drum kit performance while barely even breaking a sweat - yet this was just standard for him.

As we all know it’s the liquid rooms set that is the most fantastic showcase of the wizardry this man possesses. It’s unfathomable in today’s world using not just 2 turntables but 2 more tape decks to carve out over 30 tracks in the 60 minute tape. Ever since I listened to the mix for the first time I have been desperate to somewhat recreate this. But this is the thing it’s almost impossible to replicate such skill. Even on my setup of 2 turntables and 3 XDJs with 7years experience I have yet to ever come close to coherently mixing tracks at the speed and consistency Jeff can. The closest I have found myself is mixing 50 tracks in 100 minutes.

To reiterate with the help of modern technology and modern equipment from the comfort of my bedroom it is still impossible to compare to the skills and consistency of The Wizard. A true pioneer and revolutionary of his time.

I only wish I got to experience him and techno in its prime ;)