Biography

The seminal electro group Cybotron provided the first home for the recordings of techno godfather Juan Atkins. With partner Rick Davis (aka 3070), Atkins recorded several of electro's best moments; the singles "Alleys of Your Mind," "Enter," and "Clear," were dark dystopias of the post-industrial steel city within tight Kraftwerk-inspired funk. Their success prompted Fantasy Records to sign the group, and release 1983's Enter LP. Atkins left soon after due to artistic differences (specifically, Davis' defined pop slant), and later defined early Detroit techno with his recordings as Model 500. Davis continued to release albums as Cybotron into the mid-'90s, though the mystical R&B direction of efforts like Empathy and Cyber Ghetto were quite a turn from the group's beginnings. For fans of electro and techno, Cybotron ended when Juan Atkins left. ~ John Bush, Rovi