Ep. 36 - Karl Meier

The underground vet brings Chicago's industrial music to Berlin techno. //  Growing up in the house music capital of Chicago, one might not expect Karl Meier to make the sort of abrasive industrial techno found on his debut album as one half of Talker (with Johnathan Krohn). But as he tells Rave Curious, the city's industrial scene—famous for the Wax Trax! label, home to Front 242, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and local legends Ministry/Revolting Cocks/Pigface—had just as much influence as the house heroes like Derrick Carter, DJ Sneak and DJ Heather. The result so far has been a single album for esteemed UK techno imprint Downwards in 2014—not bad for Meier's first release after years working record counters at places like the mythical vinyl emporium Gramaphone. That album lead to key gigs at Berghain and Berlin Atonal Festival, compelling Meier to take the next obvious step and relocate to the German Capital the next year. The Rave Curious podcast caught Meier on his first official U.S. tour to find out how a dance music veteran can go from nearly unknown to underground headliner status after decades of DJing. We also try to make nice with Chicago after dissing the Windy City hard on the recent Boom Bip episode.