The first two releases on Sector 12/12 were by Infest and Domu. Both of these were free and exclusive to Bandcamp. I had spoken with Infest for several weeks before launching the label and it seemed only right that he had the first release.

The Domu release was made up of tracks he had recorded when first returning to music production under the name Conkers, and previously unreleased songs from his archive.

So although Mike had the third release on Sector 12/12, it was the first official one and the first to be distributed to major streaming sites like Spotify. The label had already gained some momentum by this stage but it’s safe to say that the lack of a vinyl release made us look somewhat amateur, which I feel is unfair but we are talking more than 12 years ago now.

The Baniza EP had four tracks and I described it as uncompromising techno taking inspiration from the raw side of house music and 90’s 303 acid culture and future music firmly grounded in dance floor culture with the attitude of a 1970’s jazz or punk record.

To this day what makes this collection of tracks stand out is its freeness. The structure and arrangements fall more in line with jazz than traditional techno, as Mike manages to avoid the constraints of techno production and delivers natural yet unpredictable music.

When listening to Mike’s music, themes and moods change throughout taking you on a journey through Berlin via Detroit.

I’ve selected two tracks from the Baniza EP to serve as a perfect introduction to Mike’s sound.  Both cuts are a wonderful excursion through the deepest depths of electronica.

These can be listened to here.

I sent the Baniza EP out to a few people I knew at the time who appreciated the deeper side of dance music, and I was blown away by the support it received.

Here are some of the comments used in the press release:

Russ Gabriel (Ferox Recordings)

There’s something for everyone on this EP. Synaptic is the pick of the bunch for me, smooth and soulful techno at its finest!

Tom Churchill (The Nuclear Family)

Great stuff, really well produced and arranged, a cut above most current techno for sure!

Dominic Stanton (2000black/Reinforced)

This reminds me how good techno should be – organic, fluid, and warm. People who claim to make ‘progressive’ house music should look to this guy’s tracks for a clear definition of what that means. Imagination channelled into art through creative disciplines.

John Morrow (Skeleton Army/Foul Play)

All round excellent E.P full of ingenious rhythms and eerie soundscapes, the stand out track for me is ‘Pedestrian Sound’. A masterclass in monster basslines and mournful synths, epic stuff.

LD (Spacebass/NTS Radio)

I absolutely love this EP. A really energetic, twisted angle on techno. Not a lazy 303 bass line in sight. The pick of the bunch is Synaptic with its long building intro, then sweeping beautifully into rich, nostalgic pads. Real Detroit vibe.

Mike went on to record more music for Sector 12/12 over the next four years, and I’ve included some of those that are based on a 4/4 kick drum on the below release.

While a little more conventional than the tracks on the Baniza EP, they can’t be described as remotely generic.

These can be listened to here.

Both of these releases will be available for free download shortly. I will post details of where you can grab these soon.

If you are into the music on the Four Four on Twelve Twelve release, be sure to check out Mike’s label Brenda, which you can find here.