- Recorded live at Brussels festival Listen, the veteran talks about leading the birth of acid techno and the sound of proto-techno in Belgium.
- At the turn of the '90s, Belgium was under the twin influences of early techno and '80s new beat. Artists like CJ Bolland helped usher these two sounds together, bridging the low-slung sludge of bands like A Split-Second and Lords of Acid with the futuristic chug of Juan Atkins and Jeff Mills.
Bolland grew up in Antwerp and was exposed to underground music from his parents, who owned a club. Eventually starting to produce himself, he helped create the early acid rave sound that would take over Europe. He signed to then-powerhouse label R&S Records with his career-defining single, "Horsepower," in 1991, and from there embarked on a prolific touring career.
In this Exchange, Bolland talks to RA's senior producer, Chloe Lula, live from Listen Festival in Brussels. He goes deep into Belgium's unique musical landscape and shares his thoughts on how the scene has evolved in response to its position between major techno hubs like France and the Netherlands. A massive gear nerd, he also shares his favourite tools and reflects on how the state of music-making has changed in the years since he first started. Listen to the episode in full.