Slam has played a pivotal role in defining Scottish rave culture for over thirty years. The formidable DJ and production team, known as Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle, recently celebrated their 35-year partnership by hosting a sold-out event in their hometown of Glasgow.
Slam maintains a cyclical relationship with the city; as prominent DJs and promoters, they have influenced musical tastes while also mirroring the city's vibrant and often chaotic crowds.
Their new album, ‘Dark Channel,’ has just been released through Soma Records, with the lead single ‘Future Version’ quickly gaining anthem status in their highly sought-after performances.
Scheduled to perform at The Cause in London for its seventh anniversary on June 14th, Slam will also conduct Pressure Yard Sessions at Glasgow's SWG3 on May 31st.
Clash asked Slam to reflect on their journey and highlight some key tracks from the history of Scottish rave culture.
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Basic Channel – ‘Q 1.1’
Released in 1993, ‘Q 1.1’ stands as one of the most impactful early tracks from the Berlin duo Moritz von Oswald and Mark Ernestus. Emerging from Berlin’s underground techno scene post-reunification, they were essential in defining the sound of minimal, dub-infused techno.
This was a monumental track for us during our Atlantis nights at Glasgow’s Sub Club, where we held a weekly residency from 1990 to 1994. In that hedonistic, dimly-lit basement, we mixed early house and the nascent techno from Detroit and other places. Tracks like this, featuring its bass drop and airy dub-soaked soulful chord stabs, brought the house down—and still do!
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Aril Brikha – ‘Groove La Chord’
Released in 1998 on Fragile, a sublabel of Detroit’s Transmat Records, this track by Iranian-born producer Aril Brikha features a repetitive chord stab that became an instant classic, resonating from Sweden to Detroit and back to Glasgow’s dancefloors.
This track was enormous for us due to its timeless elegance. Some songs don’t need to have grand drops to make a significant impact on electronic music history, and this definitely qualifies. It's one of his earliest offerings and arguably one of his best.
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Black Odyssey (Stacey Pullen) – ‘The Stand’
Detroit artists significantly influenced the underground techno scene in Scotland. Black Odyssey, aka Stacey Pullen, frequently visited Glasgow in the late 90s, and this track marked the debut release on his Blackflag Recordings. We have always cherished this record because it narrates numerous stories, fluctuating in intensity as the synth lines intertwine, crafting a cohesive, syncopated narrative. It was even featured in our Distinctive Breaks Mix CD, ‘Past Lessons / Future Theories,’ released in 2000.
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Slam – ‘Positive Education’
We must mention this track not only because it’s ours but also due to its transformative impact on our career. It was the record that propelled our touring as DJs and established Soma Records on the global stage!
I can vividly recall its creation in the studio. The initial idea emerged in about two hours, but we then spent an additional two weeks refining the sound, tweaking synth lines and making last-minute changes. Had we settled for the original synth lines, it may not have become as special as the final version!
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System 7 – ‘Alpha Wave’ (Plastikman Acid House Mix)
Steve Hillage, a progressive rock pioneer, along with his early 1990s electronic project System 7, released this over twenty-minute acid journey remix of ‘Alpha Wave’ in 1994, done by Richie Hawtin under his Plastikman alias. The track builds continuously, layering various acid lines alongside rattling 909 hats and expansive snare patterns to create escalating intensity.
This track was monumental during our weekly Friday nights at The Arches in Glasgow. The music landscape seemed less homogenized then, and as DJs, our role was to weave together diverse geographical musical styles and production techniques into a coherent set. This track definitely stood out and has endured over time!
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Robert Hood – ‘Range’
Robert Hood consistently delivers a masterclass in minimal techno, offering stripped-back, high-impact grooves with flawless precision. This 2009 track pulsates with circus techno tension, fueled by raw kicks and sharp hi-hats. Hood's skill in extracting soul and movement from a minimal palette makes his releases incredibly compelling. There’s no excess, just pure, classic machine-funk minimalism at its finest.
‘Range’ embodies what makes Hood a pioneer: focus, restraint, and relentless polyrhythms. On a powerful sound system, this one hits hard. An essential track from a true innovator.
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Jeff Mills – ‘Casa’
‘Casa’ encapsulates the essence of Jeff’s sound. As part of the influential Purpose Maker series, this track is
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Slam has played a pivotal role in shaping Scottish rave culture for thirty years and continues to do so. This powerful DJ and production duo, known as Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle,