Revolution Magazine article

The duo of Kurtis Mantronik and Mc Tee defined the sound of mid- '80s hip-hop. Back then their variety was called electro, and Mantronix was the toast of the hip-hop world, the trend-conscious Britisch music press, and even pop starts such as Jimmy Somerville of Bronksi Beat, who at one point called Mantronik his favorite producer. Their first album is a perfect example of how to produce party- oriented hip-hop, with Mantronik's intricate synth and drum programming and Mc Tee's feel good rhymes creating a dance-floor proppeling concoction. Tracks like "Bassline", "Ladies" (one of French DJ Laurent Garnier's favorite tracks), and "Needle To the groove"capture the naivete and optimism of the first wave of hip- hop. This was 1985, one whole year before groups like Run-DMC and Eric B. & Rakim would take the sound away from its Kraftwerk- influenced electro phase and into the funk and rock sampling realm of late '80s and early '90s rap. However, in music everything comes full circle, and now fathful recreactions of Kurtis Mantronik's kinetic, electronic sound are heard in the production style of Cash Money producer Mannie Frsh and in Timbaland's productions for Aaliyah and Nas.

Source: Revolution - issue March 2001