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.