Beaumont Hannant
York, England-based Hannant (b. c.1970) boasts Austrian, English and Yugoslavian ancestors. Working during the day at the Depth Charge record shop in York, he also DJs at local techno and jazz/hip hop clubs. He began recording for the first time in 1992, releasing one EP before a mini-album, BASIC DATA MANIPULATION, was unveiled on General Productions Recordings. He principally came to prominence via the compilation, POSITIVA AMBIENT COLLECTION, with Awakening The Soul. Predicted by no lesser a tipster than Andy Weatherall as techno's great white hope, his first full album in 1994 arrived in two completely separate versions: one intended for CD consumption, the other a vinyl variant. It was a clear indication of the different requirements of dance fans in the '90s. Hannant also talked widely about future projects mixing his current Detroit-derived techno flair with the music of prominent ‘indie’ bands like Madder Rose and Screaming Trees, his own personal listening favourites.