Variations

Robert and Lyric Hood AKA Floorplan return to Classic with two-track release ‘The Curse Breaker / What You Need’, further demonstrating their unique gospel house sound. With their growing catalogue of previous Classic releases gaining extensive club support from tastemakers such as Dan Shake, TSHA, Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler to name a small few, as well as widespread specialist radio support, the appetite for Floorplan’s Classic output is evident. Now the father and daughter duo return with another adventurous vocal sample for their latest release; ‘The Curse Breaker’ combines a religious sermon with expertly produced house, building from a small flame to its euphoric, blazing climax. Next up, ‘What You Need’ displays the duo’s disco influences with a heavy dose of classic 20th century soul.

The Curse Breaker

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Floorplan - The Curse Breaker (Extended Mix)

Robert and Lyric Hood aka Floorplan return to Classic with two-track release ‘The Curse Breaker / What You Need’, further demonstrating their unique gospel house sound. With their growing catalogue of previous Classic releases gaining extensive club support from tastemakers such as Dan Shake, TSHA, Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler to name a small few, as well as widespread specialist radio support, the appetite for Floorplan’s Classic output is evident. Now the father and daughter duo return with another adventurous vocal sample for their latest release; ‘The Curse Breaker’ combines a religious sermon with expertly produced house, building from a small flame to its euphoric, blazing climax. Next up, ‘What You Need’ displays the duo’s disco influences with a heavy dose of classic 20th century soul.

Pre-Order/Pre-Save

Floorplan - What You Need (Extended Mix)

Variations 4

Variations 3

Variations 1

Variations 2

Variations 5

Preorder now on Juno:  https://www.juno.co.uk/products/robert-hood-femi-kuti-variations-vinyl/980175-01/  

Detroit techno innovator Robert Hood and Afro beat king Femi Kuti is not a pairing we thought we would see but it is one we are glad we have. They join forces on the former's M Plant label for this superb collision of musical worlds. It is unified by Afro beats and a unique mix of futuristic ideals with Femi's improvised jazz sax leading the way over Hood's cosmic synth sounds. The album was recorded in just one 30 plus minute take which is all the more of a testament to each artists's abilities. Femi's exquisitely free-flowing playing and Hoods signature grooves are perfectly intertwined in this great coming together of two avant art forms.

More from the label: https://www.juno.co.uk/labels/M+Plant+US/

PREORDER

PREMIERE: Robert Hood & Femi Kuti - Variations Pt.6 [M Plant]

Robert & Lyric Hood’s globally revered house and techno project, Floorplan, return to Luke Solomon’s Classic imprint with ‘Like Dat’. As an early member of Detroit’s Underground Resistance, Robert Hood understands what it is to be the vanguard of a genre, now celebrating his faith through gospel inspired dance music with his daughter Lyric Hood. Together as Floorplan, the pair have built a strong relationship with Classic over the years, earning the respect of tastemakers like Seth Troxler, Dan Shake, TSHA and Jamie Jones thanks to their unmistakable gospel house and techno sound. Recent releases like UK radio favourite ‘We Give Thee Honor / Makes Me Wanna’ and underground cuts ‘The Curse Breaker / What You Need’ further proved Floorplan’s willingness to show their full talent at every turn. Now they continue this trend with ‘Like Dat’, a rolling house release built for the long club nights, accented by esoteric percussive sections and vocal stabs that cut through with ease.

Like Dat (Extended Mix)

Floorplan - Like Dat (Extended Mix)

The globally revered house and techno project Floorplan continue to build their relationship with Classic with explosive club release, ‘What A Friend’. Following the success of previous releases on Luke Solomon’s imprint, like UK radio favourite ‘We Give Thee Honor’ or esoteric club track ‘Like Dat’, Robert and Lyric Hood continue to dominate both festival and club stages globally, including Brunch Elektronik in Barcelona, The Warehouse Project in Manchester and Igloofest in Montreal. ‘What A Friend’ exemplifies Robert Hood’s legacy as an early member of Detroit’s Underground Resistance; vocal samples are chopped and dispersed brazenly over hard four-on-the-floor beats, creating club music that is sonically arresting, rhythmically enthralling and bursting with the attitude expected from Detroit’s legendary club scene.

What a Friend

Floorplan - What A Friend (Extended Mix)

The combination between worldwide gigs and high class releases on the biggest labels makes Drumcomplex from Germany one of the most requested acts at the moment. With his weekly radio show that he has been doing for 5 years and with changing well known techno acts and his own mixes he reaches a worldwide following. He delivers every week fresh underground techno in all its facets
1. Madben - Moogy Shit
2. Riccardo De Polo - Wahnstimmung
3. DEAS - Formation
4. DJ Dextro - Ava
5. Juri Heidemann -Semuter
6. Len Faki -Astra - Len Faki Beat Room Mix
7. JSPRV35 - Pimp
8. Dave Davis & ID10-T - Boomerang
9. Pan-Pot - Evolution - Dast Remix
10. The Chronics -So Good
11. Hertz - Go Back
12. Robert Hood - Pathetic
13. James Bong - Utopia 69

This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration

Drumcomplexed Radio Show 263 | Drumcomplex

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Following on from the special release of Robert Hood and Femi Kuti's live jazz set "Variations", Robert Hood delivers his latest Techno EP for M-Plant.  This is the first new solo music from him since 2022's "Hectic / Amazon Dust" double-header.  

Although Robert Hood should need little introduction, with his and his daughter, Lyric's Floorplan moniker riding high with a new album forthcoming on Classic, his Techno legacy should not be forgotten.  Throughout the '90s, he helped pave the way for Techno to flourish — giving birth to minimal techno with his seminal album "Minimal Nation".  Since then, he has been consistently forwarding electronic music culture with ground-breaking productions, sensational performances and his M-Plant label.  His style is characterised by minimalist and experimental tones with an assertive groove.  

His "Alpha Key EP" features four driving cuts of characteristically Hood music that prove when it comes to Techno, he's still a high-ranking master.  The EP is out on vinyl and digitally 12 April.

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Alpha Key EP

Premiere: Robert Hood "Pathetic" - M-Plant Music

Out now: https://orcd.co/REKIDS270

London-based artist Hilit Kolet returns to Rekids, collaborating with New York’s The Illustrous Blacks, the project formed by Manchildblack and Monstah Black, for the ‘Transatlantic Kiki’ EP, landing 29th August 2025 via Radio Slave’s Rekids. Legendary father-daughter duo Floorplan remix the single, with the release following up Kolet’s 2024 ‘Snap Talk’ EP, which won support from artists like Dam Swindle, Chloé Caillet, Bradley Zero, and more.

“This record is pure, bottled fun - a sassy shout-out to the twin cities that define club culture. The Illustrious Blacks' vocals were a producer's dream, so the edgier 'First Class Mix' just had to happen. To then receive a remix from Floorplan is a massive honour; their interpretation is a masterclass, and I'm thrilled to share it.”
– Hilit Kolet

“ 'Transatlantic Kiki' was written in celebration of the iconic nightlife of two of our favorite cities in the world, NYC and London. It also serves as a tribute to our instant musical connection to Hilit.”
– The Illustrious Blacks

With lyrics that connect London and New York, ‘Transatlantic Kiki’ is a tough, funk-fueled roller true to Hilit Kolet’s signature production style, infused with an unmatchable personality via The Illustrous Blacks’ playful, vogue-like vocals. It’s hypnotic, bold, and irresistible, with the pair supplying a loopy ‘First Class’ mix that introduces vocal elements not featured in the original, amplifying the track’s qualities to hit even harder, and works the dancefloor into a sweat.

Robert and Lyric Hood, known together as Floorplan, remix Hilit Kolet & The Illustrous Blacks’ ‘Transatlantic Kiki’. Equally infectious as the original, they transform its rhythm into a drummy late-night cut. Stabs and vocal chops ride the groove, culminating in a proper lose-yourself-in-the-dance House cut that also comes with an instrumental version.

London’s Hilit Kolet came up through the former Soho Black Market Records shop, and has since become synonymous with the city’s House scene via releases on Defected, Snatch!, Domino, and Rekids, with a #1 debut on Music Week’s Upfront Club Chart and support from BBC Radio 1, Jamie Jones, HAAi, Skream, and more. NYC duo The Illustrious Blacks, comprising Manchildblack and Monstah Black, blend Afro-Electro, Funk, Disco, and House across releases on Soul Clap, Classic Music Company, and Defected, as well as collaborations with artists such as Osunlade, DJ Minx, Seven Davis Jr., and David Morales.

Hilit Kolet x The Illustrious Blacks - Transatlantic Kiki (Floorplan Remix)

Download here: found.ee/fjaak-rmx02

FJAAK return with a powerful remix package, delivering fresh takes on a selection of tracks from their unforgettable 2024 album 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM'. Welcoming three standout remixes from some of techno's most respected names, 'REMIX02' sees offerings from Robert Hood, Shed and West Code, as well as some surprise Bandcamp digital only remixes selected from the participants of FJAAK's latest remix competition.

Kicking off the main remix package release, Detroit legend Robert Hood brings his unmistakable raw, relentless and pioneering sound to the table as he reimagines FJAAK's 'Breathe Underwater'. The genre-defining godfather serves up an undeniably signature cut flooded with euphoric energy, thumping grooves, rippling musicality and spaced-out vocal injections, carving out an authentic Floorplan-esque peak-time jam. 

BUY HERE

FJAAK - Breathe Underwater (Robert Hood Remix)

Next up on the GROOVE Podcast is Gregor Tresher (@gregortresher). Go to bit.ly/TreshPod for interview and track list.

GROOVE Podcast 492 – Gregor Tresher

FLOORPAN "THE MASTER'S PLAN" (CLASSIC MUSIC):
https://cmc.lnk.to/cmcd141d

Before I got into this music I wanted to be an originator ; I wanted to be original".
Founding member of the legendary group Underground Resistance as a 'Minister Of Information' with ‘Mad’ Mike Banks & Jeff Mills, his seminal works on Jeff Mill's Axis and his very own M-Plant imprint paved the way for a wave of stripped-down dancefloor minimalism that directed much of techno's path throughout the late Nineties.
Robert Hood makes minimal Detroit techno with an emphasis on soul and experimentation over flash and popularity. 

"Growing up in Detroit, I grew up with Motown in the house - a lot of Motown and Philadelphia soul, artists like Marvin Gaye of course and Curtis Mayfield. I remember Isaac Hayes, the soundtrack from ‘Shaft’ had come out. My father was a jazz musician; he played piano, trumpet and drums. My mother was in an R’n’B group.
We listened to a lot of Motown - in fact, my grandfather’s first cousin is Berry Gordy.
"I was influenced by my father - I wanted to play trumpet like he did."
Robert's father tragically died when he was just 6. The photo of Robert siting down holding a trumpet is his fathers.
"I had to beg my grandmother to let me borrow the trumpet to take a picture with it"

In the early 90's he began to concentrate on his own production 'Vision EP', the 'Riot EP' and X-102 were big stepping-stones for him as they were the first releases he worked 100% on his own. The X-101 to X-102, were Waveform Transmission projects with Mills for Tresor. He slowly progressed to work more and more on his own, but collaberated on some of the first Axis releases with label owner Jeff Mills as H&M (Hood & Mills) with ‘Tranquilizer EP’ and ‘Drama’.

He soon decided it was time for him to start his own label to focus on what was in his soul musically. M-Plant started in ’94. I had developed this “grey area” sound - what I mean by that is that in Detroit, even when the sun is out, there’s something in the atmosphere. I don’t know if its pollution or whatever, but the sky has that grey haze over it. It’s got to be something from the industrial factories there. I’d never really heard a sound like that before and it came from a Roland Juno - it was a chord sound that really went along with my depiction of what Detroit was at that time. A lot of buildings were abandoned and there was a lot of lifelessness in the city, especially downtown. The M-Plant, in minimalism, kind of reflected that. I remember thinking of Detroit like a museum. You know, like a work of art standing still, suspended in time. There wasn’t a whole lot of activity going on.

Releasing singles such as "Internal Empire,", “The Protein Valve” "Music Data," and "Moveable Parts", "The Pace", more recently "Range", "Alpha" and that isn't even touching his other monikers Floorplan, Monobox, The Vision, etc.
"M-Plant is what I've always wanted to hear: the basic stripped down, raw sound. Just drums, basslines and funky grooves and only what's essential. Only what is essential to make people move. I started to look at it as a science, the art of making people move their butts, speaking to their heart, mind and soul. “It's a heart-felt rhythmic techno sound. M-Plant is just M. minimal. “

Although his desire to remain underground has been replaced by an urge to reach a wider audience, mainly via his housier, disco, gospel moniker Floorplan with his daughter Lyric Hood,   Hood remains fiercely critical of artistic and economic movements destructive to inner-city communities and has combined his musical enterprises with outreach and social activist ends.

Variations 3

Robert Hood - Floorplan

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