Detour celebrates a decade of Pittsburgh electronics on DTR-007

Instead of an ordinary record, DTR-007 feels like an artifact: a vault of cultural objects that tell us something vital about people we don’t know and might not ever meet. This V/A of 10 tracks on vinyl features contributions from Pittsburgh producers known and unknown, and curated by Detour, the people behind standout local residency Hot Mass.

DTR-007 marks a decade for their label, also called Detour. Back in March 2014 I reviewed their first release featuring Mirko, Gusto and Naeem and observed that as a Chicagoan it felt a little “scandalous” to see a city with a fraction of our population punching so far above their weight. They’re still slugging heavyweights in the gut — “putting aside their shit and getting it done with a DIY ethic that gives us reason to reconsider what the hell we’re doing,” as I wrote then.

DTR-007 leads off with “Frustration Theory” by Shawn Rudiman, and it’s a place of honor even if he’d probably roll his eyes at that. One of the best producers in North America, Rudiman’s tracks are both aggressive and tuneful, experimental and rooted in the sinful earth. When people ask what Midwest Techno sounds like, slap this on, because you can hear the rust.

“Pack Ramen 2 Spicy” by Gladstone Deluxe is a manic acid meltdown spiked with timestretched MCs reminding you that this jam that’s making you lose your shit is worldwide. Jacktone’s Doc Sleep contributes “I Like You All So Much,” a title which certainly earns them the coveted Team Spirit Badge for this compilation. A downtempo techno séance, “I Like” is the track you find and then add immediately on every single platform so you’re never separated from this beautiful music again.

Individual tracks leap upward and spiral down one after another, like the glowing green contrail of an EKG. Paul Fleetwood’s “Quasar Cowboy” is hypnotic and utterly engrossing, leading into the striding electro vibrations of Torvvo’s “Grip (Lateralx Dub).” Hard acid from Nick Breinich is another big highlight. Founders Naeem and Gusto contribute a track each: “Of One Kind or Another” by Naeem is exhilarating, a small opus of dreamy electronics condensed to 7:45 in the middle of the LP. Gusto’s “Closing Credits” evokes the submerged sound of Drexciya on what is one of the album’s most striking moments. I listened to this record four times and after the first I wanted to contact every single artist on it and ask what they thought about the world.

⚪️ DTR-007 Tracklisting

V/A: DTR-007 (Detour / 12" Vinyl + Digital)
1. Shawn Rudiman - FRUSTRATION THEORY (04:11)
2. Gladstone Deluxe - pack ramen 2 spicy (04:21)
3. Doc Sleep - I Like You All So Much (03:54)
4. Naeem - Of one kind or another (07:44)
5. Paul Fleetwood - Quasar Cowboy (06:24)
6. Torvvo - Grip (Lateralx Dub) (05:42)
7. slowdanger - ARCH (05:41)
8. Nick Breinich - Reclaim Sink (05:31)
9. Davis Galvin - Emmoh (05:30)
10. Gusto - Closing Credits (05:48)

⚪️ Disclosure Statement

This record was submitted as a promo.

⚪️ Previous Coverage

❇️ Cover Story: Shawn Rudiman: Out of Time
✳️ New Music: Shawn Rudiman’s “Flow State” is one of the best electronic albums of the last 5 years (2021)
✳️ New Music: Mon Acid: Pittsburgh Track Authority drops acid on a gorgeous three track EP (2024)
 Mixes: Naeem and Gusto: A 5 Mag Mix Vol ++004 (2015)
✳️ New Music: Pittsburgh, Again: Detour 001 Featuring Pittsburgh Track Authority, Mirko, Gusto, Naeem (2014)
✳️ New Music: Love and Civil Unrest: Naeem & Gusto for Detour002 (2015)