Carl Craig's Aliases: From Psyche to Paperclip People

Carl Craig grew up in Detroit and began releasing music at the end of the 1980s. Derrick May brought Craig into sessions at Transmat, where early work appeared under the Psyche and BFC names. Craig co-founded the short lived Retroactive label in 1990, then started Planet E in 1991.

Craig used the names for different parts of his work. Psyche and BFC carried his earliest Detroit techno. The 69 records were sparse and experimental. Paperclip People focused on club tracks, while Innerzone Orchestra gave him room to work with jazz players and broken rhythms. He has also released as C2, Designer Music, and Tres Demented. Planet E released these projects alongside work by other Detroit artists and producers from outside the city.

The profiles begin with Detroit artists who established and extended the city's techno labels. Recloose entered Craig's catalogue through Planet E and Innerzone Orchestra, while Moritz von Oswald became a later studio collaborator. Sound Shelter's Detroit house and techno collection provides a broader catalogue view.

Juan Atkins

Juan Atkins began making electronic music in Detroit with Richard Davis as Cybotron in 1980. After the pair separated, Atkins founded Metroplex in 1985 and used Model 500 for his solo records. He has also released as Infiniti and worked with Moritz von Oswald as Borderland. Metroplex's early catalogue included Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, and Eddie Fowlkes, and the label remained the main home for Model 500. Drum machines, sequenced bass, and short synthetic melodies define Atkins's productions, with electro and funk present from the start.

Kenny Larkin

After military service, Kenny Larkin returned to Detroit and began producing at the start of the 1990s. His early records appeared on Plus 8, followed by releases through Buzz, Warp, and R&S. Planet E later issued more of his solo work. Larkin has also recorded as Dark Comedy, Yennek, and Pod, and performed widely as a DJ. Album length gave him room to develop layered chords and flexible bass lines around carefully programmed drums, with jazz and soul entering through the harmony.

Stacey Pullen

Stacey Pullen came through Detroit's second generation. Derrick May mentored him directly, Kevin Saunderson gave him an early record opportunity, and all three members of the Belleville Three influenced his musical direction. Pullen first released as Bango on Fragile, then made records as Silent Phase and Kosmik Messenger for Transmat and R&S. The Silent Phase records use long keyboard tones and restrained percussion. After starting Blackflag Recordings in 1998, Pullen focused for years on international DJ work before returning to the label and his own productions in the 2010s.

Moodymann

Moodymann is Kenny Dixon Jr., a Detroit producer and DJ who started KDJ Records in 1994. His debut album appeared through Planet E in 1997, while later work came through KDJ, Peacefrog, and his second label, Mahogani Music. Dixon is also a member of 3 Chairs with Theo Parrish, Rick Wilhite, and Marcellus Pittman. His house music uses samples, live players, room sound, and spoken voices. Many records also include direct references to Detroit people, radio, clubs, and the city's Black music history.

Recloose

Recloose is Matthew Chicoine, a Detroit producer, DJ, and trained saxophonist. He passed a demo to Carl Craig while working at the Russell Street Deli, which led to releases on Planet E from 1998. Chicoine also toured as part of Innerzone Orchestra. After moving to New Zealand, he formed a live band and worked with local musicians, while continuing to release through labels including Peacefrog, Rush Hour, and Delusions of Grandeur. His catalogue combines house and broken beat with funk, jazz playing, and detailed song arrangements.

Moritz von Oswald

German percussionist and producer Moritz von Oswald moved from playing in Palais Schaumburg to electronic production in Berlin. With Mark Ernestus, he formed Basic Channel and worked under related names including Maurizio and Rhythm & Sound. The pair also established labels such as Basic Channel and Chain Reaction. Von Oswald later formed a trio for live improvisation and recorded with Juan Atkins as Borderland. His 2008 album with Carl Craig used studio processing to reshape archive recordings of works by Ravel and Mussorgsky. Our Rhythm & Sound guide covers another part of his work.

Our guide to Carl Craig's remixes covers another major part of his catalogue. Follow Carl Craig on Sound Shelter to find his records and current stock.