Cybotron (American band)
| Cybotron | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Electronica, house, electro, techno, new wave |
| Years active | 1980-1995 |
| Labels | Deep Space Fantasy |
| Past members |
Juan Atkins Richard "3070" Davis John "Jon-5" Housely |
Cybotron was a pioneering and influential American electro music group formed in 1980 by Juan Atkins and Richard "3070" Davis in Detroit. Guitarist John "Jon 5" Housley joined soon afterward. Cybotron had a number of singles now considered classics of the electro genre, particularly "Clear" and the group's debut, "Alleys Of Your Mind", as well as "Cosmic Cars" and "R-9".
The group was inspired by midwestern funk, especially the music of George Clinton, along with German synthesizer pioneers, Kraftwerk, Japanese electro pioneers, Yellow Magic Orchestra, English electropop, Italo disco and futurist literary influences such as Alvin Toffler's books Future Shock and The Third Wave. The name "Cybotron", coined by Atkins, is a portmanteau of cyborg and cyclotron. Atkins was fond of creating such "futuristic-sounding" words — the record label names "Metroplex" and "Transmat" being other examples.
Although generally considered electro, Cybotron was also part of the early evolution of techno music. Cybotron was the first musical outlet of techno co-originator, Juan Atkins, and the group's unique combination of musical influences, boldly experimental aesthetic and afro-futurist philosophy became the underpinnings of Detroit techno.
Cybotron used a synth-dominated sound, paired with a drum-machine, whose rhythms were similar to those emerging from New York at the same time. This was reflected in their first single, “Alleys of Your Mind”, which was released on their own Deep Space label and was playlisted by the Electrifyin’ Mojo in 1981. It became a local hit in Detroit, where it sold about 15,000 copies. Their next two singles, “Cosmic Cars” and “Clear” had even more success which led to them being signed by Fantasy, a label located in Berkeley, California. Fantasy then went on to release the Clear album.
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