For fans of Detroit techno, this EP is a blueprint for understanding the genre’s roots and its enduring appeal
E-Dancer, the alter ego of Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson, delivers a high-energy, genre-defining statement with the Pump The Move EP. Released in 1994 on KMS Records, the EP showcases Saunderson’s unparalleled ability to fuse raw techno intensity with soulful grooves, solidifying his place as one of the pioneers of Detroit’s second wave. Pump The Move then stands as a quintessential piece of Detroit techno history. Its infectious rhythms and enduring grooves continue to resonate with DJs and dancers worldwide. This track is one of my favorite from this period, and it’s still have it in my bag…
Pump The Move
This EP is pure techno at its finest—deep, driving, and uncompromising. E-Dancer’s work is often characterized by a balance between rhythm and melody, and Pump The Move is no exception. The EP pushes boundaries with its stripped-down approach to production, relying on thumping basslines, relentless beats, and hypnotic loops to create an almost primal energy. At the same time, Saunderson injects a human touch with subtle, uplifting melodies and soulful vocal snippets. The result is a collection of tracks that feel equally at home on sweaty dancefloors and in the headphones of discerning techno purists.
By 1994, techno had already established itself as a global movement, but releases like Pump The Move were instrumental in reinforcing Detroit’s dominance as its creative epicenter. E-Dancer was Saunderson’s outlet for crafting music that leaned more heavily into dancefloor-oriented techno compared to his Inner City project, and this EP perfectly encapsulates his ability to balance the raw and the refined. The EP also highlights the spirit of mid-’90s techno: innovation through limitation. With relatively simple tools by today’s standards, Saunderson created tracks that remain timeless in their effectiveness and emotional resonance.
