Luke Slater

Luke Slater

Luke Slater is a British techno producer from Reading, born in 1968. He works across techno, electronic, IDM, electro and minimal techno, and records under several pseudonyms. He is associated with the aliases and projects S/D, Roog Unit, Translucent, Morganistic, X-Tront and Planetary Assault Systems.

Early career

Slater begins his career at the Mi Price record store in Croydon, where he works alongside Colin Dale and Alan Sage. He then moves to Jelly Jam Records in Brighton, where his recording career starts to take shape. His first vinyl release appears in 1989 under the Translucent name as “Momentary Vision”, issued as a white label and noted for its Detroit-influenced sound at a time when breakbeat dominated dancefloors.

Recordings and projects

After a series of further 12-inch releases, he records as Morganistic and releases “In The Shadow” on the UK independent label Irdial. That release becomes the label’s most successful and helps establish him as part of the early UK electronic scene alongside artists such as Black Dog, A.R.T, AFX Twin and B12. In 1993, his work with Peacefrog leads to the X-Tront series and the Planetary Assault Systems releases, which bring him wider recognition. He becomes closely identified with Detroit techno and with the UK end of that sound.

DJ and live work

Slater appears regularly at clubs including Fabric in London, Nitsa in Barcelona and Berghain in Berlin. He is known as both a live performer and DJ, often playing extended sets.

Labels

He is linked with Jelly Jam Records, LSD and Mote-Evolver. In 2006 he sets up Mote-Evolver, a label that releases limited 12-inch records and digital downloads through its website.

Later activity

After around two decades of work, he slows his pace in the late 2000s and focuses on the next phase of his career. Planetary Assault Systems remains one of his best-known outlets.